Question NW494 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Reply:

a) Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Municipality (WMM)

Storage:

• WMM Local Municipality (LM): mechanization center at Mbizana Rural Enterprise Development (RED) Hub at Dyifani (Ward 31) that has 2 silos for maize storage.
• There are also 4 multi-purpose sheds that will assist with the storage and packaging of agricultural products in WMM LM at Mbongweni (Ward 14), Ndakeni (Ward 8), Nyaka (Ward 18) and Mbenya (Ward 32).
• Mzamba food security is utilising 2 silos for maize storage.
• Twelve storage tanks were provided in 2013 to 12 maize projects at Mbongweni (Ward 14), Elityeni (Ward 28), Mbongwana (Ward 21) and Nomlacu (Ward 26).

Processing Machinery:

• WMM LM: Mbizana RED Hub has a milling plant that processes white maize and there is a potato washer.
• There are 2 maize dryers in the RED Hub which are used to dry maize to the required moisture content before storage.

b) Mthatha

• Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform OR Tambo office received one application from the Mthatha area in the 2021/22 financial year requesting a grain storage facility along the R61. The District Screening Committee agreed to support the request for the establishment of the facility along the R61 as it is a high grain-producing corridor in the OR Tambo District. However, due to infrastructure backlog and financial constraints, the facility is planned to be implemented from the 2024/25 financial year as a multi-year project. A budget of R1 200 000 has been set aside for the first phase, that is, planning, design, and earthworks, which are expected to be completed in the 2024/25 financial year.
• Mthatha Service Centre is within the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, comprised of Mqanduli and Mthatha. At Mqanduli, the Department in partnership with COGTA established a RED Hub meant to store and process grain produce into livestock feed and maize meal. The grain storage capacity is 2 250t. Smallholder farmers around Mthatha and Mqanduli are selling their produce to the RED Hub for storage and processing of grain into the above-mentioned products.
• On vegetable production, smallholder farmers are utilising the Kei Fresh Produce market for both storage and selling their produce. The establishment of the Market was funded and supported by OR Tambo Municipality. Currently, Eastern Cape Development Cooperation is establishing a pack house to improve the shelf life of fruit and vegetables.

c) Matatiele Local Municipality

Wool Commodity:

• Three multi-purpose sheds for wool shearing, classification, sorting, and storage were constructed between 2020 and 2023.
• Qhobosheaneng multi-purpose sheds in Qhobosheaneng village Ward 15.
• Sonwabile multi-purpose sheds in Madlangala village Ward 11.
• Matias multi-purpose sheds in KwaMzongwana location Ward 9.

• Two multi-purpose sheds are still under construction, to be completed in 2024/25.
• Simunye multi-purpose sheds in Chibini village Ward 5.
• Magadla multi-purpose sheds in Magadla village Ward 10.

• Two multi-purpose sheds are to be implemented in the 2024/25 financial year.
• Ramafole multi-purpose sheds in Ramafole village Ward 24.
• Moiketsi Reserve multi-purpose sheds in Moiketsi village Ward 14.

Grain Commodity:

• Two grain pack sheds for grain storage, packaging, processing, branding, and marketing are in the 2025/26 plan, recommended to be implemented over the next three years.
• Horncroft Farm in Cedarville Ward 26.
• Try Again Farm in Ongeluksnek Ward 10.

• One grain pack shed is in the application process to be implemented in the 2025/26 financial year.
• Esbi Khaya Farm Ongeluksnek Ward 16.