The rehabilitation of the community-owned blueberry orchard begins
Thu, 19 August 2010
"TRAC-MP managed to identify some critical project challenges... the new equipment should enable staff to continue working the orchard to increase blueberry crop production and improve quality ." - Thomas Ngwenya, Project Manager
The Coromandel Trust farm, between Lydenburg and Dullstroom in Mpumalanga Province extends over 20 hectares and is collectively owned by the 248 farm workers. The farm produces milk, blueberries, peaches, nectarines, maize, soya and beans. One of the sites, a six hectare blueberry orchard was badly damaged by frost and hail. Through this SASIX-funded project, TRAC-MP will facilitate the rehabilitation of this orchard.
Activities and Outcomes
- TRAC-MP has conducted a preliminary study on the orchard, its irrigation infrastructure and the available staff. The study will inform TRAC-MP's strategy and provide baseline information against which impact can be measured. Specifically, the study measured and assessed: a) The orchard’s current capacity. b) The human resource and training requirements for the orchard to operate at full capacity. The study found that the current staff members working at the orchard had basic training to maintain the orchard, but needed training in business and financial management. c) Shortages in capital equipment and consumables.
- The staff members began the rehabilitation of six hectares of blueberries by planting new blueberry trees and cutting grass to enable existing trees to grow.
- Four new water filters were purchased and have been delivered on site.
Expenditure
The total cost of this project was R331,337 of which R182,468.50 has been paid in full by SASIX.
| Description | Budget | Expenditure | Over/Under Spend |
| Water filters | 12 000 | 32 000 | -20 000 |
| 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 | 6 150 | - |
| Contingencies | 21 674 | 10 837 | - |
| TOTAL | 331 337 | 207 453 | -9 616 |
The cost of the new water filters was much higher than originally anticipated; R42 336 rather than R12 000. These filters are an essential part of the project, however, and thus adjustment had to be made to the project budget. In consultation with SASIX, TRAC-MP decided to reduce the amount earmarked for dripper lines to make up for the short fall. The savings on the tractor and slasher that will also contribute to the cost of the filters.
Thus far R30,000 has been paid for the filters. The remaining R10 336 will be paid from the next tranche payment.
Challenges
The orchard is currently struggling with monthly cash flows and, as a result, wages have decreased. Many employees have expressed their dissatisfaction with the lower wages.
As explained the previous section, the cost of the water filters was higher than anticipated. The shortfall for the water filters will be reallocated from the dripper lines as the water system would not run without water filters.
A new Board of Trustees was recently elected to manage the Coromandel Trust farm. According to the beneficiaries, the board has been interfering with the daily operations of the farm, resulting in diesel and insecticide shortages at the orchard. This has the potential to negatively affect the orchard's production. TRAC-MP has scheduled a meeting to address this issue with the new board.
Some of the activities scheduled for this reporting period have not been implemented yet, including the pack shed repairs and tractor maintenance and repairs. These activities will be carried outduring the next reporting period.
Monitoring and evaluation
TRAC-MP through has visited the project twice during this reporting period to monitor progress; ensure compliance with the contract; and monitor the delivery of the equipment purchased.
Conclusions
The water filters required for the success of this project were purchased and installed during the reporting period. The needs assessment of the site was finalized and used to inform the beginning the rehabilitation work on the orchards. The next phase in the rehabilitation of the orchard includes the purchase of new blueberry plants and repairing the packed shed, dripper lines and tractor. TRAC is also negotiating agreements with potential sponsors to provide business and financial magangement skills training to the beneficiearies.
TRAC-MP will be meeting with the new Board of Trustees to discuss the management of the orchard and how to ensure that the orchard remains productive.
