The Motlomobe Cooperative Limited is a new-to-be-established farming operation situated on 200ha of virgin Mpumalanga bushveld near Bushbuckridge. The land is ideal for growing subtropical fruits such as bananas and vegetable cash crops.

Motlomobe Cooperative Limited was formally registered in July 2006 with 11 members. Up until 2005 there was much political tension surrounding the land of Motlomobe, and the situation had reached a stalemate until Dan Sekolane, the chairperson of Motlomobe, initiated the process of acquiring the land. Dan realized there was a great need to create jobs in his community and saw an opportunity to do so through agriculture. “You can get rich out of agriculture.” He started to recruit individuals who were patient, prepared to cooperate, and willing to work hard. Potential members had to submit an application form and match the above criteria, pay a membership fee of R1500 and go through a probation period. Of the 26 initial members, 15 lost interest due to delays in setting up the organisation. The 200ha was granted to the co-operative by the tribal authority in 2005.

Motlomobe’s strategy is to produce off-season high value vegetable crops, and they have just commenced planning for the imminent planting season. The farm will be market driven, supplying strongly demanded high quality fresh produce while considering changes in consumer preferences overtime.

The objective of TechnoServe’s intervention strategy is to develop the Motlomobe Cooperative Limited into a profitable and sustainable commercial farming enterprise through the provision of business and technical skills, and mentorship services over a three year period.

TechnoServe has been facilitating Motlomobe’s access to both commercial and grant funding. Motlomobe was awarded R100 000 in Seed Capital by the Business Trust as part of the MABEDI programme. This capital is being carefully utilized as per Dan Sekolane’s presentation to the investment committee, and ripping in preparation for planting is due to begin within the next month. Motlomobe has also been awarded R648 000 in grant funding by the National Development Agency.

TechnoServe has also identified excellent mentors. There has been keen interest from one of the region’s most successful banana farmers in becoming TechnoServe mentors to the cooperative. DANROC farms, a successful operation in Kiepersol, are interested in mentoring the cooperative over a period of three years. This arrangement will significantly boost this start up venture, and provide established marketing avenues for the farm’s proposed produce.

TechnoServe has also secured a market for Motlomobe through Matumi Fresh Produce who wishes to source fresh butternut, sweet corn, and peppers for distribution to the region’s game lodges.

DERRICK NONYANE Derrick Nonyane was previously working at the Sasol Mill as a storeman in Nelspruit. Currently he is supporting himself by practicing as a traditional healer. He has 2 dependents.

MOTLOMOBE PERSPECTIVES
Interviews with 4 key members of the Motlomobe Cooperative Limited, Dan Sekolane (chairperson), Esion Mokone (treasurer), Derrick Nonyane and Irleen brought to light their motives, humble integrity and perceptive insight into the needs of their community. The Motlomobe members have decided to set aside 15 ha of land which had been offered to the community, at no fee, to occupy. 18 people have taken advantage of this and are going to be establishing food gardens. By directly involving the community, the Motlomobe Cooperative hopes to mitigate the threat of theft. “Our cooperative principle is to have consent with the community”.

They were asked what they thought the direct and indirect benefits of forming a cooperative would be on both a personal and community level. The obvious direct benefit to the community was the potential to create job opportunities. They hope to create a business venture similar to those at Kiepersol (a successful farming community). By doing so they expect to employ 2 people per ha which would create 400 jobs. They believe that this is the best solution to reducing rural poverty. But “we know our farm is very little to alleviate all poverty.”

Their short term plans and aims involve putting all necessary infrastructure in place and ensuring that the production side is functioning. Then they will expand by planting more hectares. Their constraint at this time is the expected delay of applying for the installation of a power cable. Road access to the farm is also limited which could pose problems for transporting produce.

The Motlomobe Cooperative acknowledges that they only have experience in subsistence farming. Thus they believe that the relationship with the farm mentors (DANROC) is very necessary if they wish to create a sustainable and profitable commercial farm.

In the future, once the farm is a successful and profitable commercial entity, the members aspire to uplift the community by funding the construction of a new clinic and providing young agricultural and business-minded members of the community with bursaries to attend universities and technicons. By doing so, they hope to continue the spirit of the cooperative. Esion Mokone observed that many of the cooperative members are old and therefore need to create a sustainable venture so that their sons and daughters could continue what they have begun: “We are old, that is why we must make the foundation so that when we die, they’ll take-over.”

On a more personal level, the members are proud of having succeeded in creating a business venture. They are very optimistic and are certain that it will succeed and are motivated to change the lives of not only themselves, but the entire community.

DANROC Farms: the HEARNE family

“We are also proud to have TechnoServe backing us and supporting us”. Before TechnoServe stepped in, Motlomobe had been applying for grants and bank loans. They remarked that government has been placing interest in cooperatives and therefore funding may have eventually become available. However, they have attributed the speed of their access to finance, as well as the securing of mentors and market to TechnoServe’s direct assistance.
“It has not been long (our relationship with TechnoServe) but they have gone a long way in consolidating all our plans. We can use the word incredible (to describe their involvement), and we only wish they could stay for 4 years not 2! But when you leave, we will make sure we don’t disappoint you.”