Cobus Dowry, Minister of Agriculture, will open the first in a series of five regional Farmworker Indaba's at 09:00 at the Piketberg Agricultural hall.
This will be followed by visits to two massive innovative empowerment projects at Moravia and Riebeek cellars. Minister Dowry will be handing over a cheque to the value of R2 ,9 million to the trustees of the Moravia project.
Moravia Project
Commercial and empowerment partners have joined forces to create hope and opportunities for some of the people from the areas of Porterville and Piketberg. The basis of this project is to utilise a long-term lease agreement on suitable land and access to irrigation water and other resources, in order to establish a substantial wine grape farm on the banks of the Berg River near Moravia, Piketberg. This would be achieved by establishing 70 hectares of premium wine cultivars under irrigation, and to link the wine grape production with the value-adding facilities and marketing acumen of an established local wine cellar.
In a parallel but separate development another 30 hectares of wine grapes would be developed for and by the local community of Wittewater, adding to the benefits of permanent and seasonal jobs and profit sharing through both developments.
Riebeek Cellars
The basis of this project was to purchase an undeveloped farm near Malmesbury, and to establish a substantial wine grape farm under dry-land conditions. This will be achieved by establishing 63 hectares of premium wine cultivars over a five-year period, and to link the wine grape production with the value-adding facilities and marketing acumen of an established local wine cellar. This project is well on its way.
Enquiries:Alie van Jaarsveld
Cell: 084 604 6701
