Transkeian village breaks the poverty barrier

More than 200 residents of Saphukanduku village in Transkei have broken the barriers of poverty with the assistance of a R1.6- million investment by the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA).

The maize project is built on a reinvestment model where emerging farmers get 10% of the crop or take the percentage in cash.

The remaining 90% is reinvested into the next year and used for expansion.

Elated villagers had big smiles on their faces during the project’s first harvest last week.

They have chosen to keep their 10% share of the maize, which they will use to feed their families by making mealie meal and pap.

They will also use the mealies to make traditional beer that they will sell to people in neighbouring villages.

Vuyiswa Maja, 50, a mother of three teenagers, has lived in the village all her life.

She said the maize project had given her hope for a better life, because in the past she had experienced hardship and poverty.

“I am a mother of three children. I am happy because I am going to use the money I get from the project to further my children’s education. The money we are making from this project is the most I have ever had in my life. I feel empowered and I am so grateful,” Maja said.

Pretty Moshoeshoe said she took pride in looking after the crops because they had become her livelihood. “Because of this project we no longer go to bed hungry. It has uplifted us and changed our lives for the better,” she said.

Saphukanduku residents have been plowing the fields on their own for decades, but were unable to raise good enough crops and make enough money.

Villagers lacked the know-how to market their crops effectively and find buyers in a secure market.

They struggled to plough the fields on their own thanks to inadequate resources.

AsgiSA chief executive Simpiwe Somdyala said the project had provided the community with the impetus to realise their dreams.

When AsgiSA stepped in, it sent the emerging farmers on a workshop where they learnt how to farm.

It further assisted the community by providing tractors, fertiliser, seeds, chemicals and all the other resources needed to grow their crops. “This year the expected yield is 6.5 tons a hectare against the average yield of three tons expected for the region.

“An area of 129ha of maize has been planted during the 2009/10 cropping season.

“It is encouraging to see the leadership that has been shown by this community,” Somdyala said.

AsgiSA operates 45 similar projects in different villages.

It started the project in 15 villages in 2008.

Somdyala said a major challenge was the lack of storage facilities. Silos would be built.

(This story is courtesy of The Herald. Used with permission.)