In the lower-Peddie district a joint pineapple farming venture called PineCo exists between the Pineapple Growers Association (PGA), the local community and workers in the industry.
The private company has 35 employees and consists of two farms spanning 1400 hectares of land. The company is under the supervision of the founding member and current managing director, Lulama Mtya.
PineCo was initially funded by the government and the PGA in Bathurst. The PGA engaged in a working relationship with PineCo and the Peddie Pineapple Trust under the premise of a mentorship program. Under the mentorship premise, the PGA shares skills, expertise and experience with PineCo in order to help them run and manage a successful farming business.
In the lower-Peddie district a joint pineapple farming venture called PineCo exists between the Pineapple Growers Association (PGA), the local community and workers in the industry.
The private company has 35 employees and consists of two farms spanning 1400 hectares of land. The company is under the supervision of the founding member and current managing director, Lulama Mtya.
PineCo was initially funded by the government and the PGA in Bathurst. The PGA engaged in a working relationship with PineCo and the Peddie Pineapple Trust under the premise of a mentorship program. Under the mentorship premise, the PGA shares skills, expertise and experience with PineCo in order to help them run and manage a successful farming business.
Of PineCo’s 1400 ha, only 450 ha are currently in operation while the rest is planned for future use. Despite having received initial funding from the government, Mtya said that “now we operate on our own and the future looks bright. We are generating our own income and expanding.”
The PineCo company sells directly to a cannery in East London called Summerpride Foods – which is the largest in South Africa and has been partnered with PineCo from the outset.
Together with the PGA, Summerpride have worked closely with PineCo in aiding them with implementing a successful farming operation. It is one of the few successful commercial farming ventures under the land reform program in the greater Grahamstown area.
