Joint agricultural development project harvests second grain crop

The harvesting of the second grain crop of the joint agricultural project that was undertaken by AfriForum, Saai, Agri All Africa, local farmers, and the Boiphitlhelelo Co-operative of Noga’s Post in the Barolong Boo Seleka Kingdom was completed this week. 8,5 tonne wheat was harvested and delivered to OVK Tweespruit. Wheat was planted during the 2022 winter season because very high rainfall prevented the planting of sunflower during the summer season.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. To realise the Thaba ’Nchu we so desire we need to endure. We must also cultivate a culture of doing things for ourselves as communities. Sustainable development comes with effort and I thank our partners for embracing my vision and remaining dedicated to walking the journey with me. This project serves as a humble example of what can be achieved through cooperation and also serves as proof of our commitment to become a sustainable, self-sufficient and prosperous nation,” says Kgosi Gabo Moroka, kgosi of the Barolong Boo Seleka Nation.

“The stability of communities is a prerequisite for a prosperous future for the future generations of the cultural communities of southern Africa. Good intercultural relations and food security are major pillars of stability. We are grateful that we can build good intercultural relations and improve food security through knowledge transfer and the advancement of community self-sufficiency through projects such as this one,” says Barend Uys, Head of Intercultural Relations and Cooperation at AfriForum.

“High rainfall caused flooding and very wet fields that limited the access to the fields of the local commercial farmers working as partners on the project. We are thankful that the project team persevered through these and other challenges and that wheat could be harvested and sold to the benefit of the Noga’s Post community. Saai is involved in these agricultural development projects to support subsistence farmers on grass roots level that have the will and potential to develop to commercial farmers, to achieve this goal,” says Dr Theo de Jager, Executive Board Chairperson of Saai.