Mpumalanga Premier Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane will this week officially handover the completed 1st Phase of the Mpumalanga Agri-Park to its rightful beneficiaries in SasolKraal Farm near Secunda, in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality. The Agri-Park is being developed on the land that was given by SASOL to the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs in year 2022, for the operation of agricultural activities.
This follows a partnership agreement entered into between SASOL and the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs to develop a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder Agricultural Park in SasolKraal Farm. The agreement was aimed at bringing together the producer groups of various commodities and to provide access to marketing and conservation facilities for their produce.
The Secunda Agri-Park project has a total land of 300 hectares, currently only 200 hectares are in operation by two main cooperatives which are the Esperanza Coop and Zimisele Junior7704 Coop, which both produce vegetables.
The first phase of the department’s intervention, has seen the refurbishment of six poultry houses, two of which have been stocked with 2,5-thousand chicks. The rest have been earmarked for co-ops operated by the youth, women and people living with disabilities. The department further constructed a piggery house and stocked in 20 sows and 2 boars.
Once all planned phases are completed, activities at the Agri-Park will include cannabis and hemp production, fresh produce park house, fertilizer blending, aquaponics, vegetable tunnels, peach production and pipe manufacturing plant.
The Premier is expected to be accompanied by DARDLEA MEC Busisiwe Shiba, at the handover ceremony scheduled as follows;
Date: Thursday, 02 May 2024
Venue: SasolKraal Farm, Secunda, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality
Time: 09h00
For media confirmations, kindly contact Ms. Phumla Mokoena on 013) 766 2249/ 060 998 8781or Mokoenapi@mpg.gov.za and or Mr. Bheki Nyathikazi on 071 485 8634/ nyathikazibw@mpg.gov.za.
For media enquiries please contact Ms. Zanele Shabangu (DARDLEA Head of Communication Services) 072 089 9556 / (013) 766 6133
ENDS…
Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Office of the Premier
Enquiries: Mr Tebogo Ditlhale
Acting Provincial Government Spokesperson
(013) 766 2020/ 073 782 6154
ditlhaletd@mpg.gov.za