Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said he was happy with the completion of the construction of the new three aquaculture grow-out tunnels used to expand catfish production in Graaff-Reinet.
Qoboshiyane visited Karoo Catch fish farm on Monday where he witnessed the first transfer of catfish into one of the new three aquaculture grow-out tunnels at the farm.
The Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform said that the three new aquaculture grow-out tunnels were constructed with the R9.1 million investment from the department as part of the implementation of the Agriculture Economic transformation strategy.
“I am glad to see young people eager to learn and farm catfish. What we have seen today is wonderful – from the hatchery to the processing of catfish. This is what we want our farmers to do, they should exploit the agriculture value chain,” Qoboshiyane said.
“While primary production is important, it is processing that has more money because you add value to what you produce,” he said, adding that aquaculture was identified by his department as one of the priority commodities to drive rural development.
Qoboshiyane said that the strategy is aimed at up scaling commercial agriculture production in the province through investment partnerships between key commodities and the department in a bid to create jobs, transform communal farmers into commercial farms with access to market for their produce.
Currently Karoo Catch employs 102 full time employees from the local community and 75% of the employees are women, 77% are youth with at least 20 farm workers and 69 are factory workers.
Karoo Catch, a Graaff-Reinet-based aquaculture company started by Liesl de da Harpe focusing on creating jobs for women and youth in an area with massive unemployment and food shortage attracted the department’s investment to expand catfish production for leading retail stores.?
The department signed a five-year partnership with Karoo Catch for the construction of three grow-out tunnels to enable Karoo Catch to increase catfish tonnage production from 60 tons to 120 tons of catfish per month for processing into fish burger patties, sausage, mince sold to local supermarket chain stores in the town.
Karoo Catch’s Ken Light said the ultimate goal was to transfer the ownership of the three grow-out tunnels constructed with the DRDAR investment to the smallholder farmers they are developing.
“What will happen is that Karoo Catch we produce the fish through the hatchery, take it to the grow-out tunnels or grow-out farmers and they in turn will sell their stock back to Karoo Catch to be processed in the factory and sold to the various retail outlets. The idea is to create all these satellite farmers around us and create wealth in that way,” said
According to Light, Karoo Catch, which is 51% black-owned, trains its workers, gives them full-time jobs after completing their training, joining in the 41% shareholding of the employee’s trust.
According to a statement from DRDAR, one of the Karoo Catch employees, Noluvuyo Matutu, said the project has changed her life.
“Before I started here I did not know anything about fish but now I have more knowledge because of the skills we have been given here. I now check the water quality and feed the fish. I am able to provide for my family as well,” said Matutu.
Karoo Catch’s production supervisor, Francis Martins said he was now able to support his family and improved his skills sets through Karoo Catch.
“In my life, the project has made a huge change I can support my family. I believe it is going to be the same for others with the inclusion of the three new tunnels and the factory, more people will be employed and the circle of poverty will be broken,” said Martins.
Dr Beyers Naude mayor Deon de Vos said the Karoo Catch project has brought positive returns for the area.
“The support of the department in the district has been incredible. They have created jobs for young people and they are excited about it. We are glad that the project will be employing more young people of the Karoo in the new factory. The contribution of the department in sustaining the department has helped us very much,” said de Vos.
(Statement and Pics: Supplied)
