Plantation intercropping get support from government

He handed 122 10kg bags of groundnut seeds, 100 5kg bags of jugo beans seeds, and nine bags of sweet potato plants to hundreds of beneficiaries as part of the agroforestry project. The project entails intercropping of agricultural crops and commercial forest trees in recently regenerated or unplanted land spaces. After the harvesting of trees, the land is used by the community to plant their crops before Safcol returns to replant the plantation with trees.

Bapela said that Safcol will allocate about 26 hectares in the Tzaneen area to the beneficiary communities to use as agricultural land. “I am glad to see that the project is really making sure the land is to the benefit of everyone. “We will engage with the Department of Agriculture to make sure that everyone involved gets the funding and support they need,” Bapela said. The CEO of Safcol, Tshepo Monaheng, said that the relationship that Safcol is building with the community is one that will go far, and both parties benefit mutually.

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“For the last 14 years, communities have been involved in cutting bluegums and through intercropping, cleared the plantations of weeds before we replant,” Monaheng said. He said young Safcol graduates also get the opportunity to become involved in the project and create jobs. He further said that the Safcol-trained beehive keepers project should be expanded and can create up to 200 job opportunities for the people in the area. “We want to increase the beehive boxes and the harvest of honey,” he said.

“The honey can be delivered to a manufacturing plant such as in the Nkowankowa Industrial Park where it can be prepared for the market.” “When supermarkets order your produce, they will want to see where you are producing for quality control purposes so that whatever goes to the shelves is approved on all standards required. “We will definitely be coming back to see if we can partner on that in a bigger way,” he said.

Bapela and Monaheng, who was also joined by Mopani District Municipality’s MMC for Agriculture, Maripe Mangena, promised to return in March next year during the harvesting season. Bapela also handed over furniture manufacturing tools to community-based organisations that utilise Safcol timber to manufacture furniture for their communities. Bapela said he is saddened that many young people are not interested in agriculture.

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“When you look at the age of people who are involved in agriculture, it’s people of about 60 years; young people should look at agriculture as the future,” he said. Kenny Letsoalo (24) from Metz village in the Maruleng municipal area received a donation of furniture manufacturing tools. Letsoalo said that he started his business using his NSFAS stipend and later with the support of Safcol.

“I would like to encourage the youth to utilise their skills. There is a lot of support from government institutions such as the NYDA and SEDA. “They can help you to register a company and offer you training such as quality assurance. “Takealot has approved my application to sell on their site,” he said.