Stakeholders take hands to improve agricultural development project

AfriForum and Saai joined hands with Prince Bambindlovu Zulu to improve an agricultural development project at KwaKhangelamankengane, south of Pongola. The stakeholders decided to support the development project because Prince Bambindlovu and his team already produces vegetables successfully. The design and installation of a more effective drip irrigation system was made possible through the network of experts and companies of AfriForum’s Pongola branch.

Prince Bambindlovu and his team have been supplying agricultural products such as potatoes and cabbage since 2017. Flood irrigation that uses more water and distributes it less evenly was previously used. The project team wants to increase agricultural production and optimise water utilisation and this moved the stakeholders to give support in this regard.

“I am excited by the improvement in productivity that is made possible by the installation of this irrigation system. It is a privilege for me to work with my team and to serve as an example to community members that progress is made possible through hard work. I am very grateful for the support provided by AfriForum and Saai,” says prince Bambindlovu Zulu, project leader of the agricultural development project.

“Peaceful co-existence is possible if community members on grass-roots level treat each other with mutual recognition and respect. It is a privilege for us as AfriForum’s Pongola branch to enable cooperation and results on grass-roots level through our community network,” says Alton Vlok, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Pongola branch.

“As a family farmer network, it is important to Saai that people that want to be commercial farmers, be supported to develop to agriculturalists that not only create wealth for themselves, but also contribute to food security in the country. Here are upcoming farmers that want to improve, and that is why we are involved,” says Dr. Theo de Jager, Executive Board Chairperson of Saai.

“It is a privilege for AfriForum to honour our commitment of cooperation with the Zulu cultural community that we made to the late Zulu king, His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini. We are not busy with something new or strange, our ancestors also maintained good relationships with, amongst others, king Mpande and King Dinuzulu – we are optimistic about the good relations and cooperation that will also be established in the time of King Misuzulu,” says Barend Uys, Head of Intercultural Relations and Cooperation at AfriForum.

Measurement of the land was done by personnel from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the irrigation system was designed, supplied and installed by Aqua Nyoni, that joined Agrico on 1 June.