Small scale pineapple production down
Pineapple co-operatives in Hluhluwe are suffering the effects of current weather conditions as production slumps.
POVERTY-STRICKEN communities in and around Hluhluwe are suffering major setbacks to their pineapple growing industry as a result of current weather conditions.
Located in the heart of the queen pineapple production belt, the Akehlulwalutho Pineapple and Vegetable Farming Co-operative was established in 2010 to assist in alleviating the high unemployment rate in KwaNibela.
‘Pineapples require little water, however, the complete absence of rain and scarcity of water have proven detrimental even for the substitute vegetables we grow for cash flow while preparing the pineapples for market,’ said Project Coordinator, Thobile Msezane.
A project initiated by the National Development Agency (NDA), which is a poverty eradication agency with the Department of Social Development (DSD), the co-operative has been successful in the jobs it created as well as the awareness programmes on offer to community members.
These included training to offer preventative community and school programmes dealing with teenage pregnancy, anti-substance abuse and social cohesion problems.
Msezane said there has been a significant drop in incidents since the formation of the programme in the Hluhluwe region.
‘Hluhluwe continues to harvest good produce, particularly the bigger farmers, however, it is the small co-operatives that suffer the most as they do not have resources such as irrigation systems, insurance and available funds to combat the external factors,’ said Yolisa Ndima, NDA Provincial Manager.
The NDA is looking for ways to assist the Akehlulwalutho co-operative and has called on other government departments to step up.
Also read: No food security for drought stricken communities
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