Union courts investors for project

project expected to cover 500 hectares of land.
ZCFU president Mr Donald Khumalo recently said his organisation had so far managed to attract Windmill, Innscor, Favco and ZB bank among others into the project.
“The union has so far secured US$600 000 from a local bank for the project but this is not enough as it only covers about 300ha.
“We need more funding to meet the costs of procuring seed and the general management of the crop. Seed enough to cover a hectare costs US$2 000 while there will be need for at least a similar amount for other operational costs,” said Mr Khumalo.
He added that it took between US$ 3 000 and US$4 000 for the successful production of potatoes on a hectare.
“The potato programme is meant to help resource poor farmers struggling to raise operational finances and will re-pay the loans after marketing their produce.
“A hectare of properly managed potatoes can produce 40 tonnes that can also translate into US$20 000 if marketed properly. This is a lot of money and the farmers can easily re-pay their loans and continue farming on their own,” he said. Under the programme each farmer grows potatoes on between three and five hectares for easy monitoring by agronomists from the union.
Mr Khumalo said the potato project would enable farmers to take advantage of the void created on the market after the banning of South African products that had pushed most locals out of business.