MEC gives Karoo Catch the thumbs up

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — The Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) MEC, Mlibo Qoboshiyane this week paid a visit to the Karoo Catch aquaculture plant in Graaff-Reinet.

The Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC, Mlibo Qoboshiyane during his visit to the Karoo Catch aquaculture plant in Graaff-Reinet – a thriving agriculture economic transformation project where the government is in partnership with farming communities, the private sector and NGOs to grow the province’s economy through agriculture investments.

The visit, which was held as part of the monitoring and evaluation programme of his department, transpired on Tuesday, 17 April, and saw the MEC inspecting the status of the construction of aquaculture tunnels funded by his department through a partnership with the Graaff-Reinet based Karoo Catch initiative.

As part of the implementation of the Agriculture Economic Transformation Strategy aimed at upscaling commercial agriculture production, the department invested R9.1 million into the expansion of aquaculture production and infrastructure development in the Graaff-Reinet area.

The MEC met with Karoo Catch workers, managers and infrastructure officials from the department sourcing status reports on the construction, production, training and selling of finished fish products to local Retailers.

The Karoo Catch fish farm is one of the key Agriculture Economic Transformation Strategy projects financially supported by the department for the development of black farmers into commercial farmers.

A R9,1 million investment

The R9,1-million investment by the DRDAR saw the construction of three grow-out tunnels that will enable Karoo Catch to produce an additional 60 tons of Clarias per month.

The MEC inspected the status of these facilities during his monitoring and evaluation visit to the facility.

The facility can already produce 60 tons of Clarias per month that can be processed into burger patties, sausage and mince and then sold to local food retail stores.

As part of the signed agreement with the department, Karoo Catch trains local black farmers, providing them with commercial production, market-related skills and creating jobs for locals, women and youths, who will also own shares in the business.

Currently, the project employs 102 full-time employees from the local community.

The Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) MEC, Mlibo Qoboshiyane this week paid a visit to the Karoo Catch aquaculture plant in Graaff-Reinet.