MAHIKENG MAIL-MADIBENG – The North-West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said they would closely monitor Madibeng Grain Farmers project’s progress, assess performance metrics, to manage harvesting and identify areas for improvement.
This came after MEC for the North-West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono handed over a high-tech combine harvester to 40 grain farmers in at Geluk Village in Madibeng, Bojanala Platinum District. The farmers who are mainly into barley, wheat and Soya production will utilise the harvester collectively through their cooperative Madibeng Grain Farmers. The beneficiaries are mainly from areas including Kareeport, Sonop, Geluk, Sandrift, Mamogalieskraal, Snymansdrift and Wolwekraal.
The key modern features of the harvester is that it delivers superior harvest quality. Its technology ensures the cleanest grain sample. It also possesses more space comfortable and precise for harvesting. The IV colour touchscreen monitor can be positioned on the ideal viewing for an operator.
The new LED lighting package enables 24-hour productivity. It is also equipped with a 7, 5-meters removable header that is designed for particular crops. The header has revolving reel with metal teeth to cause the cut crop to fall into the auger once it is cut. The modernity of this machine will ensure gentler treatment of fragile seeds that were often crushed and destroyed during harvesting.
The Madibeng Grain Farmers aim to improve their agricultural practices, enhance productivity, and establish sustainable market channels. The acquired combine harvester will assist to streamline harvesting process and reduce production costs. The harvester will now take over the process of reaping, threshing, gathering and winnowing to a single process.
MEC Mohono has expressed her gratitude for their commitment towards the process of acquiring the harvester. “I urge you to continue with the same spirit as you begin to collectively utilise this harvester in your over 700 hectares of land. I am happy that complaints of high costs of harvesting will be greatly reduced. Let everyone of the team members be developed in line with the modern technique of this machine,” MEC Mohono said.
She also emphasised that the harvester was in position to change the lives of the farmers for better. “This machine is placing you at commercial level, and you must know that you are now greatly carrying responsibility of assisting the improvement of food security levels of our province. This is a game changer in your farming businesses,” Mohono added.
On behalf of the group, Obakeng Lebethe who is also a grain farmer welcomed the support from the Department. Not only was he in high spirit during the handover ceremony, he also took the audience into confidence as he presented how the harvester works. He said his acquired skills would assist the team to be less reliant on external help. Lebethe said the acquisition of the combine harvester brings to an end their four year journey of collectively requesting government to intervene in grain harvesting. That followed the high costs associated with harvesting, which mainly leaves them with close to no turn-over. He has committed his team to a high level of work etiquette and to ensure that the harvester positively impacts on the lives of all beneficiaries.
