uMhlosinga Development Agency

Agri Projects

Makhatini Agri-Business Hub: The aim of this project is to establish a farmer owned private company that operates collectively for profit.

Motivation
The main focus of this project is to ultimately set-up a model that can be duplicated within the agricultural transformation process, desperately needed as land restitution needs bankable projects to ensure national food security. The Makhatini Master Plan is a vital instrument in ensuring that agricultural development in the Umkhanyakude District takes place in both a transparent and economic sound manner.

The Makhathini Agric-Business Hub will combine the agricultural activities based on multi-product agriculture and market driven production. The local farmers and the Agency will procure 4 white commercial farmers to become partners in the company. These commercial farmers will be required to invest in the company, in either cash or in-kind, becoming fully fledged partners, thus sharing their experience and knowledge with their counterparts in the local community.

The project will be developed in collaboration with the Makhatini Master Plan Steering Committee and the Provincial Department of Agriculture. The Agency will seek the assistance of National Agricultural Organisations, Land Bank and DBSA amongst others, to ensure the successful implementation of the project. The hope is to see the project incorporate the assistance of provincial educational institutions to research and further develop the project to be repeated in the agricultural sector.

The Agency will maintain a minority share in the project and will be responsible for conflict resolution, marketing, funding and expansion. Sustainability through equal opportunity activities will ensure the success of this project and could be the bench-mark for future agricultural development.