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SMALLHOLDER IRRIGATION PROJECT (SHIP) CAADP AFRICAN FORUM 2012. PRESENTED BY: ZINHLE FAITH DLAMINI TUNIS, TUNISIA NOVEMBER 2012. The Sugar Industry in Swaziland. 2 nd largest employer after govt Contributes 18% to GDP
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SMALLHOLDER IRRIGATION PROJECT (SHIP)CAADP AFRICAN FORUM 2012 PRESENTED BY: ZINHLE FAITH DLAMINI TUNIS, TUNISIA NOVEMBER 2012
The Sugar Industry in Swaziland 2nd largest employer after govt Contributes 18% to GDP Large scale (Millers and Estates) and smallholder growers (FC’s and Associations) About 50, 000, ha of land under sugar 122 Smallholder growers in total
WHAT WERE THE MAJOR CHALLENGES? • Low yields and high production costs- poor husbandry practices, insufficient and/or late application of farm inputs • Irrigation system management- no maintainance, poor irrigation scheduling • High operating costs- transportation/haulage costs, electricity, fertiliser and labour costs
MAJOR CHALLENGES contd’ • Debt servicing-high initial capital costs, inappropriate repayment schedules, high interest rates • Non availability of working capital- poor performing loans background, banks delayed provision of operational loans or lesser amounts • Poor Management of farms and social conflicts- Rapid turnover in leadership, unwillingness of members to undertake activities, unrealistic expectations- loans for dividends
THE PROJECT AND APPROACH • The EU provided financial assistant as a grant amounting to 70% of each Farmer Company's development costs in the first year. • Farmer Companies were expected to source a Loan amounting to 30% for the operational costs in the first year. • SHIP was tasked with giving technical assistance to farmers i.e. Supervising works and providing trainings, coaching and mentoring
WHAT IS BEING IMPLEMENTED BY SHIP? Two major development goals • Investment and capital costs are reduced for sugar cane growing small holders • Smallholders farms are competitively managed as businesses
1. Investment and capital costs are reduced • Develop farm plans, review and approval of irrigation designs and business plans • Prepare tender documents • Supervise works-contractors conformity to quality standards, then commissioning • Financial overview
Technical training in irrigation • Training in irrigation management • Mentoring on system management • Long term support and mentoring
2. Smallholders farms are competitively managed as businesses • Preparation of business plans • Conduct Business and Training needs assessment • Design and implementation of business planning and management planning • Conduct trainings • Contract specialist service providers to assist FC’s
Smallholders farms are competitively managed as businesses contd’ • Provide assistance to Farmer Company management (Trainings, Systems and structures) • Foster linkages between private sector service providers and FC’s • Monitor Management performance of FC’s • Ensuring Statutory requirements are met
SUCCESSES • Registration as farmers companies • “Land rights” acquired • 30 DESIGNS APPROVED • 30 BUSINESS PLANS APPROVED • 24 FC’s developed (1788 ha), 6 more (584ha) being developed • Business development trainings conducted • Irrigation management trainings conducted • Business management systems and structures in place • Adherence to statutory requirements • Mentoring and coaching going on well • Harvesting groups in place- economies of scale • Weaning of 3 FC’s and 7 set to be weaned in January
IMPACT and BENEFITS- 13 FC’S • Improved productivity of farms- from 100 to 115 tch • Proper management of farms-systems and structures • Improved debt/loan management- from 6 to 2 or 3 years • household income increased- from 90 to 300 € • Availability of working capital –from proceeds • Maintained irrigation system • Operation costs manageable • Willingness of financiers to give out loans
IMPACT and BENEFITS- 13 FC’S • Other businesses- diversification, supply of farm inputs • Infrastructure development • WEANING OF FC’S
CHALLENGES • High interest rates • Lack of trust • Key cost drivers high- labour , energy, haulage • Poor management of farms • Land ownership issues- social • Poor contracts management • Taxes?????
Conclusion • 70% or no 70% grant • Is the grant enough to ensure sustainability in Agriculture Growth? • 100 % debt financed……….are the trainings, mentoring and coaching enough to ensure sustainability? • Low productivity, indebtedness, high operational costs, unavailability of working capital and poor management of farms…..has/is the project addressing this? TO THE FUTURE??????
SIYABONGA THANK YOU