Zondle Agricultural Cooperative has increased from 30 50 kg bags to 600 bags
Zondle is the first successful National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) cooperative in the district.
Production of beans by Zondle Agricultural Cooperative has increased from 30 50 kg bags to 600 bags over the past two years.
Grain SA appointed Mr Cornelle Butter to mentor the cooperative and Zondle is the first successful National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) cooperative in the district.
Speaking at the Harvest Day function, Ms Sibongile Ngutshane (NARYSEC coordinator at the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs {DARDLA} in Gert Sibande) encouraged the youth that is already in NARYSEC to use the skills acquired to create a better life for themselves. She pleaded with them not to focus on the stipend, but to think of the bigger picture.
DARDLA made a commitment to support emerging farmers like those in the Zondle Agricultural Cooperative by taking 70 per cent of the production to provide to government schools as feeding scheme.
This year the cooperative has targeted the Gert Sibande Department of Education as their potential client.
Mr Mduduzi Mnisi (chairman) was a NARYSEC participant from 2010 to 2014 where he was trained in construction skills, but the passion for farming caused him to divert from construction to farming.
That is where the Zondle Agricultural Cooperative was formed with five members. The project has managed to create 12 permanent jobs and 40 seasonal jobs around Breyten.
The cooperative sells the beans to Drinkwater Company, which has a market in Durban and also exports to other countries.
The cooperative also has a local market, especially in and around Ermelo.
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