The development opportunities in agriculture constitute a range of activities in areas such as formal mainstream education in agriculture, training courses for subsistence and commercial farmers, research and development for animal and crop producers in the servicing area and advice on the new farming technology and mechanisms.
- Agricultural Production Farms
The opportunity is to increase production to meet the demand of Dube Trade Port. The need to increase production of category D and E products as farmers are currently producing these products. There is a need to increase production through access to agricultural support. The provision of agricultural equipment, labour and yields are imperative to the success of this project. Linkages with smaller farms would be necessary to increase production levels in the future.
- iLembe Agri-Processing Hub
Successful pilot projects have emphasised the need for an integrated agri-processing facility. The agricultural commodities that will be the focus of the agri-processing hub in iLembe are:
- aromatic plants for the production of essential oil (tertiary crop)
- fruits and vegetables already grown in the district
- medicinal plants (secondary crop)
- subtropical herbs and spices
The need for an agri-processing plant for;
- Drying
- Pureeing of spices and vegetables
- Washing of fruits, vegetables, medical plants
- Distilling of essential oils
- Cooking and pickling of vegetables and spices
- Packaging and labelling
- Pack houses
- Organics
The integrated processing hub will encourage the further emergence of local farmers, allowing them opportunities in the commercial sector. Out growers, such as the chilli and paprika farmers, tap into the agri-processing facility, creating a demand pull factor for products by creating a market for the produce of these rural farmers. This in turn allows more out growers to be set up.
The hub will be managed by a body corporate, which will attend to the renting out and maintenance of the complex. When participating beneficiaries' units become sustainable, the units will be transferred to the new owners to continue business. Opportunities are:
- the hub complex, including a cooperative pack house and various processing and value-adding units – a storage and ripening facility, a cold processing and pre-packing unit, a hot processing unit and composting unit
- a 60-hectare subtropical fruit training and production unit for emerging farmers
- an intensive 45-hectare vegetable and herb training and production unit for emerging farmers
- markets at Stanger and Ballito as outlets for fresh produce
- four collection depots, one per local authority
- de-bulking and dry goods unit
- bridging finance, management contract and start-up stock for the hub.