Capital equipment already available at the orchard
Thu, 24 June 2010
"I feel very happy with the intervention of the financial assistance from the private sector and there is a great possibility of project success” – Mr Rossouw Nkosi, supervisor
The Coromandel Trust farm, between Lydenburg and Dullstroom in Mpumalanga Province extends over 20ha and is collectively owned by the 248 farm workers. The farm has a solid business plan in place, producing milk, blueberries, peaches, nectarines, maize, soya and beans. One of the sites, a 6ha blueberry orchard has experienced declining yields through frost and hail damage, and through funding from SASIX, TRAC will facilitate its rehabilitation.
Activities and Outcomes
- At this early stage of implementation, TRAC has purchased some of the equipment required to work on the farm, including a tractor and a slasher.
- The organisation is now busy undertaking a detailed evaluation of the existing orchard, including its irrigation infrastructure and staff requirements.
- TRAC estimates that planting will go ahead in October-November 2010.
Expenditure
| Description | Budget | Expenditure | Over/Under Spend |
| Water filters | 12 000 | - | - |
| Purchase of new blueberry plants | 32 500 | - | - |
| Repairs to Shade Netting | 727 | - | - |
| Soil preparation | 2 000 | - | - |
| Dripper lines | 40 000 | - | - |
| Slasher | 20 000 | 16 800 | 3 200 |
| Pack shed repairs | 24 000 | - | - |
| Tractor repairs & maintanance | 11 136 | - | - |
| New tractor * | 155 000 | 147 816 | 7 184 |
| Project Management | 12 300 | 2 050 | - |
| Contingencies | 21 674 | 5 418.50 | - |
| TOTAL | 331 337 | 172 084.50 | 10 384 |
- Expenses were made according to the original budget. The only modification was the purchase of a new tractor with the funds available for a second hand bakkie and tractor, as originally planned. TRAC managed to secure additional funds to purchase two new bakkies and therefore decided in negotiation with SASIX, to pool funds and purchase a new tractor for the orchard. The R10,384 that has been saved thus far will be set aside for contingencies.
Challenges
The main challenge for the project has been the delay in the delivery of the equipment due to Transnet’s strike in May and the subsequent backlog generated in the South Africa’s main logistical centres. At this point, only the slasher has been delivered; according to the supplying company, the tractor should be delivered to the farm by the end of June.
Monitoring and evaluation
TRAC pays regular visits to the project and has a seat on the Executive Committee of the Trust. One of the main functions of this committee is to track project progress across the various sites on the farm.
Conclusions
The necessary capital equipment, which has been delayed due to external circumstances, should be available at the project site in the next weeks. By this time, the needs assessment of the sites will be finalized and will set the basis for the beginning the rehabilitation work on the orchards.
