Noko Development Trust enhancing job creation and food production

PHIRING

The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development (DLRRD) conducted a media tour to the Noko Development Trust in Phiring on November 19.

The trust is among the earliest land reform initiatives and was established in 1997 through the Settlement Land Acquisition Grant (SLAG) programme.
Over the decades, the Noko Trust has demonstrated resilience and continuity, prompting the DLRRD to organise a media tour to highlight the manner in which its beneficiaries have transformed the land, acquired through the land reform programme, into a viable and sustainable enterprise.

The department has invested in excess of R4m in the project, primarily for the installation of centre pivot irrigation systems and the expansion of livestock operations.
The Noko Trust’s main agricultural activities include the production of wheat and dry beans, and cattle, complemented by smaller-scale cultivation of butternut, seed maize and lucerne.
Annually, Noko Trust provides employment to approximately 400 seasonal workers and maintains a permanent workforce of seven employees.
Despite its progress, the trust’s capacity to fully utilise the 350 hectors  under its management is significantly constrained by high Eskom electricity tariffs.
“We produce top-grade wheat that meets the highest grading standards, however, the substantial electricity costs continue to limit our production potential,” said Sarel Mokoena, the founder of the project.
Beyond its commercial operations, the Noko Trust serves as an important training platform for students requiring practical experience to complete their academic qualifications. The trust also contributes to community welfare through ongoing donations of beans to NGOs, school feeding programmes and vulnerable households.
It has also played a meaningful role in enhancing local school infrastructure and supporting disadvantaged families within the community.