“I’m really attached to this project now. I want it to be a success.” So says Qobo Qobo Essential Oils (QQ) project consultant Mike Pedersen-Horn, who, along with Dean Lemmer, QQ farm operations manager, is spearheading the establishment of 90ha of irrigated essential oil crops in the marginalised Keiskammahoek area of the Eastern Cape.
Pedersen-Horn, a vegetable farmer from East London, now spends two days a week in Keiskammahoek managing the QQ project, which has already created 40 permanent jobs.
HUB MODEL
To ensure that emerging farmers gain commercial expertise as efficiently as possible, QQ’s management has based the operation on a hub model. Herein lies its strength, says CEO Tafara Shuro.
“The hub model enables highly successful farmers to journey with new emerging farmers in a marginalised community like Keiskammahoek. This is a major breakthrough in agriculture in terms of skills transfer and mentoring. Our projections indicate that the farmers will become profitable within the next three years if we continue having sufficient rainfall,” he explains.
The intiative has by no means been plain sailing, however. QQ first operated as a programme of the Siyakholwa Development Foundation, which was founded by Brian and Jerri du Plessis in 2006 to steer community development in the Keiskammahoek valley.
This story is from the August 14, 2020 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 14, 2020 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Protests in Poland turn violent
The farmers’ protest in Poland is fast becoming known as the most violent agricultural protest in Europe, according to national media.
Banana Hall of Fame celebrates banana industry
In celebration of its 125th Bananaversary, Dole Food in the US recently established a National Banana Hall of Fame to honour culinary and cultural institutions that have helped to establish bananas as one of the world’s most popular and most purchased fruit.
Underutilised crops come into their own
Diverse food systems are the focus of collaborative efforts at UKZN, writes Jyothi Laldas.
Why cybersecurity is needed in farming
The agriculture sector could be the most susceptible to cyberattacks.
Minister launches third National Status of Biological Invasions in SA programme
Biological invasions need to be treated as an urgent matter as they pose a risk to water security as well as biodiversity, writes Jyothi Laldas.
Two brothers who left their mark on SA
Born in Germany, Alfred and Otto Beit came to the Transvaal's diamond fields in the late 1800s, helping to found mining companies and build crucial infrastructure, writes Graham Jooste.
Driving impressions: Honda Elevate 1,5
Honda SA is back to its best in terms of packaging, build quality, value-for-money and efficiency with a new entry to the hotly contested compact SUV market. Ian McLaren for CAR tested the vehicle at its launch.
Starting a small-farm vegetable project: Part 2
The process of developing a small vegetable farm is gradual and the full benefits will only be realised later, writes Bill Kerr.
Basic vaccination and health protocols for pigs
Pigs are usually produced in intensive environments such as purpose-built piggeries, sties, or even enclosed sheds.
Saving Nigeria's forest elephants
Nigeria risks losing all its forest elephants. This is what Rosemary Iriowen Egonmwan, professor of environmental physiology of animals at the University of Lagos, and Bola Oboh, professor of genetics at the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics at the University of Lagos, found when they went looking for them.