Farmers harvesting crops in Qumbu
Fri, 14 August 2009
“The nutritional status of my family has improved as I can grow my own vegetables and use the government grant to attend to my other personal needs. I am grateful about the service offered to me” – Mrs Lamani Matshoba, Zimbileni village pensioner.
REPORT 1:TEBA Development’s Homestead Crop Production project helps food security in Qumbu
TEBA Development aims to strengthen existing farming practices and increase access to water and other essential resources. This project will create food security for 300 Qumbu homesteads and will increase the confidence of these poor, rural communities to determine and guide their own development. 100 individuals in each village were identified as the beneficiaries of a 12-month training and support programme.
Outputs and Impact
- 239 women and 70 men have been trained in organic farming, thereby improving their farming methods.
- Each beneficiary is planting and harvesting crops on ground of at least 0.5 hectares in size, and therefore providing food for their entire household. Each beneficiary has approximately six dependants, which means that the crop production impacts on approximately 2,400 individuals.
- A few beneficiaries (less than 30%) produce a surplus, which they sell for a small income. The average income generated from the sale of crops is below R500, although two farmers generate an income of approximately R2,000 per month.
Activities
- Introduced the project to local municipalities and stakeholders. These stakeholders included the Department of Agriculture and Department of Social Development.
- Made contact with the community and identified individuals that would be targeted for support.
- Conducted a district survey with key stakeholders in order to obtain a better understanding of the area, the community needs and likely development interventions and opportunities. A report on the findings was compiled.
- Since May 2008, 309 beneficiaries were registered and their names entered into a project beneficiary data base. The beneficiaries have been trained in organic farming, which entailed:
- Soil testing
- Planning and preparation of vegetable gardens
- Use of equipment
- Preparing seed beds
- Transplanting seedlings
- Application of organic manure and inorganic manure
- Protection of plants from insects using organic and inorganic methods
- Harvesting
- Storage
- Basic financial recordkeeping and marketing skills (for sale of surplus crops)
- In March 2009, seed packs and orange trees were issued to 200 beneficiaries. Each beneficiary has received cabbage, spinach, carrot, onion and beetroot seeds and five fruit trees. The distribution of seed packs and fruit trees was due to have been completed at the start of the project, but was delayed. This is discussed under Challenges. *In March 2009, engineers were appointed to design ten micro-irrigation systems. The design will be completed before the end of March 2009. The construction is expected to commence in April 2009. The installation of the 10 micro-irrigation systems was to be completed at the beginning of the project, but was not. This is also discussed under Challenges. *100 beneficiaries will be given seed packs and fruit trees in April 2009. *Ongoing monitoring and support has been provided to 309 beneficiaries. This will continue for a further six months to make sure that food production is enhanced and that project goals are met.
Expenditure
The cost of the project is R221,000, with R55,500 still to be paid.
| Description | Total Budget | Total Expenses to date |
| Agricultural officer | 48 000 | 48 000 |
| Travel | 48 600 | 48 600 |
| Project administrator | 14 400 | 14 400 |
| Seed starter packs | 60 000 | 50 000 |
| 0 x micro-irrigation systems | 50 000 | - |
| Total | 221 000 | 161 000 |
Challenges
- The main challenge was unforeseen project staff turnover, which had a negative effect on the implementation of the project. The position of project coordinator was left vacant and this resulted in a lack of communication between the various operational functions.
- Despite the lack of communication, the beneficiaries received adequate training within the correct time periods. However, the lack of communication resulted in beneficiaries not receiving their seed starter packs. Consequently, they had to buy their initial seed packs through TEBA, who arranged for bulk discounts. Ten of the most vulnerable beneficiaries were supposed to receive a micro-irrigation system. This was also delayed.
- A project coordinator has recently joined the project and has since ensured that 200 of the 300 starter packs have been distributed. The design of the micro-irrigation systems is also underway.
- As per the original proposal, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry had agreed to install 66 rainwater reservoirs in the three villages. The department, not contractually bound to the installation, has since decided that it will not install these systems in Qumbu. According to the project manager, this will not have an adverse effect on the project results, as it was not an integral aspect. The beneficiaries had also not been informed of the possibility of the reservoirs.
Monitoring and evaluation
- The local facilitator compiles monthly progress reports that highlight work progress and challenges, which are addressed by the project manager and zone manager.
- The crops that are grown are:
- Cabbage
- Potato
- Spinach
- Carrot
- Beetroot
- Onion
- Green pepper
- Tomato
- Eggplant
- Pumpkin
- The final impact will be assessed on completion of the project.
Conclusions and Analysis
TEBA Development has extensive experience in implementing food security projects in the Eastern Cape. However, the lack of a project coordinator in the initial stages of this project resulted in what may have been a negative social impact.
The starter seed packs and fruit trees were an essential part of the project, as they allowed beneficiaries to begin crop production without being concerned about the cost of seeds and how it would take food away from their tables. Thus there may have been a negative impact at the beginning of the project, with beneficiaries spending money on seeds that may have been intended for food.
TEBA stated that the fact that beneficiaries had to pay a small amount for their start up seeds did not exclude certain individuals. However, this is not something that can be determined with certainty as many potential beneficiaries may have seen the cost factor as a good reason not to participate.
The delay in construction and installation of the micro-irrigation systems does not have as large a negative impact as the delay in seed pack distribution. However, 10 of the most vulnerable beneficiaries would certainly have benefited from the increased ease brought about by an irrigation system.
Although this sort of analysis is not currently taking place, it would be interesting to determine the exact reasons for some beneficiaries generating a greater crop surplus and income than others. The knowledge gained from this could be applied to increase the number of beneficiaries generating a greater income.
Despite the above, TEBA Development’s new Qumbu project coordinator has managed to overcome the hurdles mentioned, to ensure that actual project deliverables will be met. A total of 309 beneficiaries from three villages in Qumbu are now planting and harvesting their own crops, which enables them to provide a more balanced and nutritious diet for their families. Furthermore, a few beneficiaries are selling their surplus harvest, generating a small but meaningful income for their families.
