The wheat cultivation project of the Porterville Community Association has generated a net income of R200 000 for the 2020/21 season, bringing the total amount paid to beneficiaries since the inception of the project to a hefty R1.6 million.
As a founding member of the association, Kaap Agri plays an important role in ensuring the sustainability of the project. The funds were recently handed over to beneficiaries at Kaap Agri’s offices in Porterville.
The Porterville Community Association was established in 2003 as a non-governmental organisation with the intent to distribute all profits generated to vulnerable communities and welfare organisations in the small rural town. Wheat farming is the main agricultural production in the area.
The wheat cultivation project was founded in 2004 and involves the cultivation of wheat on a 22-hectare piece of land provided at no cost by the Bergrivier Municipality. An agreement was reached with the Municipality in 2020 whereby the land will be available for the project for the next 9 years and 11 months.
Johan de Lange, Kaap Agri’s Divisional Executive: Services and Relations who has a longstanding involvement in the initiative says the sustainability of the project is of great importance to the company. “At Kaap Agri the reason for our existence is that all our stakeholders should be better off because we exist. This requires a long-term approach to community development projects and a focus on relationship-building.“ Thanks to Kaap Agri’s successful Grain Services division, we can share expertise and help with the coordination and administration of the project. “It is especially encouraging to see how the project has grown over the years to a stage where it can provide an annual injection of funds to local beneficiaries.”
The income generated from the project is donated to Porterville Primary, Porterville High School, the Porterville Badisa Christian welfare organisation as well as Huis Nerina Old Age Home. Last year the beneficiaries also shared R200 000 of the project profits. At the start of the national lockdown in early 2020, the wheat cultivation project donated a further R60 000 in food assistance to the community.
In order to make a larger share of the income from the sale of the grain available to the beneficiaries, a variety of project partners assist by fully or partially sponsoring inputs such as seed, fertilizers and chemicals as well as services, such as credit, bookkeeping and contract work.
The sponsors involved from the beginning of the project are: Bergrivier Municipality, Kaap Agri, Sensako, Yara, Soill, Omnia, Greenspan, Viking, Villa Crop Protection, AG-Sprayers and Integrum Audit, Wenkem, Inteligro, Nitrophoska, Bayer, RSAM, Mutual & Federal insurance, Syngenta, Porterville Correctional Services, SA Kalk & Gips.
Porterville Community Association Chairman, Wayne Dirks, says the involvement and support from the sponsors are core to the success of the project. “The goal is for the funds to be made available to the most vulnerable within each organisation. As can be seen from the selection of the beneficiary organisations, the emphasis is on children and the elderly. “The Porterville Community Association strives to provide financial support in a sustainable manner and to make a real difference in the lives of the underprivileged in our community.”