STUDENT’S GRATITUDE FOR EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING
Casidra2018-11-09T08:51:17+02:00 Caryn Classen, a student at CPUT, who recently completed her six months’ experiential training at Casidra, expressed her gratitude as follows; “As a student, it is always good to put theory into practice. Therefore, as a third year Office Management and Technology student I had the opportunity to do just that. I had to complete my six months’ experiential training at a company to gain experience within what we...
HAARLEM TRANSFORMATION COMMITTEE UNLEASHES TRANSPLANT ATHLETE’S DREAM
Casidra2018-11-09T08:51:24+02:00 Martinique du Preez (19), a transplant athlete from the Haarlem Community in the Southern Cape, received assistance from the Haarlem Transformation Committee (HTC) and Casidra towards his sports gear. This young man was one of 65 transplant athletes chosen to represent the South African Team at the Official World Transplant Games held in Mar del Plata, Argentina from 23-30 August 2015. Casidra manages the apple farm Anhalt...
FREEHEIM EGGS FARM SHOWS GROWTH POTENTIAL
Casidra2018-11-09T08:52:11+02:00 Freeheim Eggs is a chicken layer farm situated at Friemersheim in the Southern Cape region owned by three previously disadvantaged beneficiaries (one woman and two men). The farm is about 1875m² in size and consists of approximately 550 chickens that produce 100 eggs per day. These beneficiaries identified the huge need for egg production on a small scale to sell eggs to the local community shops. They aspire to...
WCB REACHES GREATER HEIGHTS
Casidra2018-11-09T08:57:09+02:00 WCB Boerdery is a table grape farm situated next to the small town of Saron in the Cape Winelands region was established in 2012 by Warren Bam as the sole beneficiary. The approximately 22 hectare farm had 13 hectares of table grapes newly cultivated at the beginning of 2013. Approximately 9 hectares of organic table grapes in production are leased from the farm owner. Bam is an...
AFRICAN ROOTS WINE TRUST’S SECRET FOR SUCCESS
Casidra2018-11-09T08:57:01+02:00 The African Roots Wine Trust is a wine farm situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands (Lynedoch in the Stellenbosch region). It is the home of the Seven Sisters Wines that has been trading for more than five years. The beneficiaries of the farm are seven sisters who all grew up in the small fishing village of Paternoster on the west coast. This wine farming project is led...
MINISTERIAL ACTIVITIES: TOP WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE CROWNED
Casidra2018-11-09T08:56:57+02:00 The Western Cape’s top female entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector were crowned during a prestigious event on the 19 August 2015 by Minister Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities. This competition is a partnership between the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Provincial Departments of Agriculture. It is now in its 16th year and seeks to honour the sector’s leading women. When congratulating...
CASIDRA MAINTAINS STATUS QUO WITH CLEAN AUDIT REPORT
Casidra2018-11-09T08:56:52+02:00 Cape Agency for Sustainable Integrated Development in Rural Areas (Casidra) received its 26th unqualified audit to maintain a good standing financial and performance report status quo during the company’s Annual General Meeting held on 26 August 2015 at Head Office. Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde congratulated Casidra for what he described as maintaining its excellent status of good financial processes. “Casidra has a good track record and has good financial...
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO’s DESK
Casidra2018-11-09T08:56:48+02:00 Some new initiatives envisaged by the Western Cape government are now coming to fruition and are ready to be implemented. Amongst the most prominent is Project Khulisa. Project Khulisa is the concept through which the provincial government conducted an in-depth investigation of the areas and sectors, which need to be focused on, to bring about meaningful economic growth and job creation in the province. The ultimate aim is to...Hopefield and Cape Metro Business and Entrepreneurship Training
Casidra2018-11-09T08:56:38+02:00 The Unit for Technical Assistance (UTA) was requested by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) to appoint a Facilitator to conduct Business Management and Group Dynamics training for farmers in Hopefield and Cape Metro’s, Kraaifontein area. The aim for the Cape Metro training was to create a conducive environment under which all groups can work cohesively, as they are leasing farm portions from the same farmer. The group...UTA Projects (requests) completed in the 1st quarter
Casidra2018-11-09T08:42:14+02:00 Kliprivier Kleinboere Trust – Legal Opinion Matjiesrivier Dairy – Feasibility Study Howard Barend Honeybush – Resources Assessment Alternative Food Study in the Western- Cape – Special Request (Tender) Evaluation of the Food Security Programme – Special Request (Tender) Slangrivier Saambouboer – Financial Viability Study Hopefield Abattoir Group – Training (Special request) Ravensmead Farm – Suitability Study Metro Group – Training (Special request) Dwarsberg Farm – Resource Assessment Baviaanskloof Trust...
FAREWELL TO OUR BOARD MEMBER
Casidra2018-11-09T08:42:23+02:00 Casidra bid farewell to one its long-serving Board members, Prof. Julian Smith on the 12th March 2015 at Laborie’s Harvest restaurant in Paarl. Prof. Smith started serving as a Board member way back in 2002. During this time, he served and provided his invaluable leadership expertise within various Board committees, and was the chairperson of the Remuneration Committee for numerous years until his resignation as a Board member in...
UNIT FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Casidra2018-11-09T08:44:47+02:00 Land Reform Evaluation Report for the Western Cape summarised below The Unit for Technical Assistance in Casidra was requested to conduct an evaluation of the Land Reform Programme in the Western Cape Province. The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the rate of success and based on a sample taken from 246 agricultural land reform projects supported by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) from 1 April...
Food Garden Competition Award for Southern Cape beneficiaries
Casidra2018-11-09T08:44:42+02:00 In February 2015, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDOA), with assistance from Casidra, organised the Food Garden Competition in Karatara for the Southern Cape residents who are taking the lead in food security. The intention of this competition was to award those beneficiaries who carried the food garden initiative successfully after receiving support from the WCDoA. This follows after the WCDoA, along with other stakeholders, handed over food...Western Cape Government establishes Land Reform Advisory Desk
Casidra2018-11-09T08:44:14+02:00The Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde, announced the newly-established Land Reform Advisory Desk (LREAD), based at Casidra's head office in Paarl (an implementing agency for the Western Cape Department of Agriculture), to expedite transformation in the province's agricultural sector. The LREAD’s vision is to address the inequitable distribution of land to accomplish integration of the rural areas into the mainstream economy of the Western Cape. Minister Winde said, "Speeding...Rural Nodal Development Co-operative and SMME Support Programme
Casidra2018-11-09T08:44:04+02:00Casidra has been successfully unleashing the potential of entrepreneurs who are dreaming big across the Province to change their lives through the Rural Nodal Development Co-operative and SMME Support Programme. This is a programme of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, which was established to afford local businesses an opportunity to access low-cost finance to become self- sustainable. Businesses have an opportunity to apply for finance ranging from R0...
FIRST CLASS PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
Casidra2018-11-09T08:43:59+02:00The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) and its implementing agency, Casidra, continue to roll out the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) successfully to the poor communities within the Province. Since the inception of the CASP Programme more than 10 years ago, we have seen a rapid growth in terms of the number of farmers who have benefitted from CASP funding in the Western Cape. From January until March this...
Jackalskraal receives new Chalets
Casidra2018-11-09T08:43:52+02:00 Another great highlight was the unveiling of newly-built chalets for the Griqua’s Jackalskraal farm on Saturday, 28 March 2015. These chalets were made possible by Casidra’s efforts after sourcing funding from the National Lottery Board (NLB). Eventually, the NLB released this funding after extensive delays due to a lengthy process of heritage requirements. During the inception, Casidra identified an opportunity for the Kranshoek Griqua Community Trust (KGCT) to develop...
STONY POINT-OFFICIAL LAUNCH: FROM WHALING STATION TO ECO-CENTRE AND RESTAURANT
Casidra2018-11-09T08:43:48+02:00 The community initiative project Stony Point Eco-Centre and restaurant (On-the-Edge) in Betty’s Bay was successfully launched on Friday, 10 April 2015. This project was funded by the National Department of Tourism as part of its Social Responsibility Programme, and implemented by Casidra. It is one of Casidra’s long-outstanding projects since the first Memorandum of Understanding was signed 10 years ago. The launch was well attended by high profile dignitaries,...
MESSAGE FROM CEO’S DESK
Casidra2018-11-09T08:43:43+02:00The 2015/16 Casidra year started off on a good note, but scurried along at a rapid pace. The onset of the New Year brought about the anticipation of starting the various initiatives that were devised at the close of the previous year. Amongst the most prominent was the newly crafted initiatives around Project Khulisa, which means ‘to grow’. This project is a Western Cape Provincial Government model that looks at...The UTA completed the following projects during the last quarter:
Casidra2018-11-09T08:43:29+02:00 Alona Fresh Produce – Financial Viability Assessment Agri Jobs Fund – Coordinating jobs fund application process Nuutbegin Farm –Viability Study Enaleni Farm – Strategic & Financial Viability Study McGregor Small Scale Farmers – EIA Opinion (Screening) KK Poultry – Borehole Assessment Lease Agreements- DPAC– Reviewing lease agreements and providing legal opinion
New UTA Manager
Casidra2018-11-09T08:43:36+02:00As from the 1st of April 2015, Belvin Namoobe is the new UTA Project Manager. Prior to this appointment, Belvin was Casidra’s Business Advisor for the Cape Winelands, Overberg, and West Coast District areas under the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP). He holds a BCom Economics and Finance, Bcom (Honours), and an MSc Agricultural Economics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Former University of Natal). Belvin has vast experience in business...Understanding Lease Agreements
Casidra2018-11-09T08:43:22+02:00What is a contract of lease? This is an agreement between a Lessor (usually the owner) and a Lessee (or tenant) which allows the tenant to enjoy the property in return for the payment of rent (Paralegal Advice, www.paralegaladvice.org.za, 2015). Understanding every clause contained in a lease is cardinal for you to know what the implications are for signing and what it will actually entail on your part. In as...The UTA completed the following projects during the last quarter:
Casidra2018-11-09T08:43:18+02:00 Nyanga Abattoir – Pre-feasibility Study Kraaibos Chicken Project – Dam Maintenance Plan Fynbos Vrugte en Wyn – Viability Study Bakoord Project – Legal Opinion on lease agreement Adam Freek Beekeeping – Business Plan Arya (Pty) Ltd– Pre-feasibility Study CRDP Dysselsdorp – Special Project – Evaluation AgriPlanner and Agri Forecast – Pilot Project evaluation Agulhas Vaardigheids Skool – Soil Survey Agulhas Flower Growers – Soil Survey Old Bethlehem Co-Op :...
UTA Manager Resignation
Casidra2018-11-09T08:43:10+02:00 It is with great sadness that we announce the departure of the UTA Manager, Quinty Moroaswi, who recently accepted a new position at Old Mutual. Quinty will be leaving the services of Casidra on the 12th February 2015 to pursue another career. We wish her only the best with her future endeavours.
Virgin Soil Matters
Casidra2018-11-09T08:43:01+02:00 South Africa has a number of different sets of legislations that are designed to protect the environment that different sectors of the economy must adhere to. Just like the other sectors, the agricultural sector is not exempted from these legislations. There are a number of legislations that govern the agricultural sector, but for the purpose of this article only the legislations that farmers must adhere to if they want...
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO’S DESK: 2015 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF LIGHT
Casidra2018-11-09T08:42:56+02:00 The year ended on a high note with Casidra’s 25 Years of Excellence celebration and staff year-end function held on 28 November 2014, which was well organised, attended and characterised by a good atmosphere and spirit. It drew the curtain for Casidra on an eventful year filled with new developments, such as the appointment of its new CEO and the new Executive Authority. The night offered ample time to...
CASIDRA RECEIVES FIRST RUNNER-UP
Casidra2018-11-09T08:42:50+02:00 Casidra shone at the 2014 National Productivity Awards Finalists Ceremony held at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg where it received an award as first runner-up for its outstanding achievement in productivity improvement in the “public sector category”. Casidra went up against four other institutions from various regions in the country. This achievement followed after Casidra received a Gold Award in the Public Sector category during the Western Cape Productivity Awards...
BEST EMERGING SEED PRODUCER ACHIEVEMENT
Casidra2018-11-09T08:42:43+02:00Waaikraal shone brighter than the sun when the farm won the coveted award of ‘Best Emerging Seed Producer for 2014’ during the Klein Karoo Seed Production’s (KKSP) Gala ceremony held at the Queen’s Hotel in Oudtshoorn. This prestigious event was attended by most seed producers for KKSP, with Waaikraal’s farm manager, Jolian du Preez, amongst them. Du Preez received the award on behalf of Casidra who manages the farm on...
CASIDRA’S 25 YEARS COMMEMORATION
Casidra2018-11-09T08:42:35+02:00 Casidra hosted a prestigious event to celebrate its 25 years of existence during its year-end function on 28 November 2014 at Elsenburg College. The theme was ‘Casidra celebrating 25 Years of Excellence’. This event was well attended by high profile dignitaries and clients, role-players in rural development and the broader agricultural and economic development sectors as well as Casidra’s staff. Dignitaries who celebrated Casidra’s milestone included the Western Cape...
World Food Day commemorated in Suurbraak
Casidra2018-11-09T08:56:31+02:00 The Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Swellendam Municipality, Casidra and various other stakeholders commemorated World Food Day on 16 October 2014 in the small village of Suurbraak where poverty is rife. World Food Day is an international day of action against hunger celebrated during the month of October. It has since then been observed by millions of people around the world who come together to declare their commitment to...
Western Cape Farm Worker of the Year 2014
Casidra2018-11-09T08:56:27+02:00 The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) crowned its top Farm Worker of the Year for 2014 during their prestigious event held in Stellenbosch on 7 November 2014. This annual competition for Western Cape farm workers is hosted by the Department in conjunction with Shoprite. The event was attended by high profile dignitaries and approximately 700 farm workers and farmers across the Province. Michael Brinkhuis, Casidra’s CEO, was amongst...
Thanking Our Sponsors
Casidra2018-11-09T08:56:23+02:00Click on the Logos to go to our Sponsors Page
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CASIDRA MOURNS THE DEATH OF ONE OF ITS STAFF MEMBER
Casidra2018-11-09T08:56:16+02:00 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word and believeth on Him that sent Me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life” – John 54-26. Casidra is still in mourning after the death of Natalie Hoffmeester, who was a bookkeeper at our Regional Office in George. Natalie passed away after a long illness and will always be remembered for...
Land Reform Programme for the Western Cape
Casidra2018-11-09T10:04:09+02:00The UTA conducted an evaluation of the Land Reform programme in the Western Cape. The report is summarized below:
The Unit for Technical Assistance was requested to conduct an evaluation of the Land Reform Programme in the Western Cape Province. The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the rate of success on a sample taken from 246 agricultural land reform projects supported by the Department of Agriculture from 1...Projects completed by the UTA in the 2nd quarter
Casidra2018-11-09T08:55:58+02:00 Matzikama phase 2 – Feasibility Study Greenville Farm Estate – Water source determination Bonne Accord – Business plan development Dag & Nag – Water Source Development LS pig farming – Generic Lease Agreement African Roots – Pre-Feasibility Study Human Capital – Strategy Development Seasons’ Find – Environmental Impact Assessment Diagnostic & Design Evaluation of Service Needs of Different Farmer Categories Doebucks (Pty) Ltd – Viability Study.
UTA‘S SUCCESS STORY
Casidra2018-11-09T08:55:08+02:00UTA received the request on the 02 February 2013 to conduct borehole test to check the quality and capacity of the borehole for Alona Fresh Produce. Brain and Eleanor Swart are the only beneficiaries of this project. During the time when this request was put forth, the farmers were farming tomatoes in a tunnel that covered 3000m² and were envisaging to add an additional multispan greenhouse and olives in the...
GENERIC ABATTOIR MODEL – UPDATE
Casidra2018-11-09T08:55:49+02:00In our last quarterly newsletter, we discussed the viability of a low throughput abattoir that has the capacity to slaughter 6 units. This quarter, we discuss the viability of an abattoir with the capacity to slaughter 10 units per day. 10 Unit is equivalent to 10 cattle, 60 sheep/goats or 120 porkers. As mentioned in our previous quarter’s newsletter, the risks that are associated with the illegal/informal slaughtering of livestock...
AMALIENSTEIN RECEIVES AWARD / AMALIENSTEIN ONTVANG TOEKENNING
Casidra2018-11-09T08:55:42+02:00AMALIENSTEIN RECEIVES AWARD
Casidra is proud to announce that Amalienstein’s Community Development facilitator, Liticha Fortuin, received recognition as runner-up in the Best Female Worker category during this year’s Female Entrepreneur of the Year award ceremony on the 15th August 2014 at Nelson’s Creek Estate. Fortuin received her award from Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities. Casidra congratulated Fortuin on this outstanding achievement!AMALIENSTEIN ONTVANG...
Casidra makes school children’s dreams come true
Casidra2018-11-09T08:55:35+02:00 Henry David Thoreau, born in 1817, an author, poet and political activist, said, "books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations". Casidra donated computers and furniture to the Crystal High School in Hanover Park a year ago. The school saw the need for valuable assets and set up a modern technological library for their learners. They invited various stakeholders to assist...
Greenhouse Farming and Hydroponics: The solution to farming in a country with limited water resources?
Casidra2018-11-09T08:55:28+02:00 South Africa is a country with limited water resources and where access to land is an issue. With these limitations in mind, a task team from Casidra recently undertook a viability study on Greenhouse Farming (with Hydroponics as the backbone of this farming method) to see if this farming method can overcome these limitations cost effectively. Greenhouse Farming entails farming under a cover, while Hydroponics is the philosophy to...
St Boniface Primary School receives funding for food garden
Casidra2018-11-09T08:55:21+02:00The St Boniface Primary School in Molsvlei, with almost 600 learners, received support to develop a food garden. Molsveli is one of the areas that faces serious water challenges and depends on rain water to irrigate crops. Ten rainwater tanks and irrigation equipment were procured for the school by Casidra with the CASP funding received from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and two 3.5m x 15m Eco-tunnels were erected...
Worcester Trout Project Demonstrates Growth Potential
Casidra2018-11-09T08:48:28+02:00Worcester Trout is a smallholder black farmer project in Worcester, which has been in operation for more than five years. It is currently being implemented by Casidra and is expected to be completed by the end of September 2014. Frederick Pienaar, the project beneficiary, has created one permanent job. The project was funded by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture through its Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme. Casidra, as an implementing...Ashton Small-Scale Farmers Trust
Casidra2018-11-09T08:48:34+02:00Ashton Small-Scale Farmers’ Trust is a livestock farming project that has goats, sheep and chickens and is situated in the Bonnievale area in the Cape Winelands. This successful project, with its high growth potential, plans to expand its livestock to cattle. During its inception, project had 147 beneficiaries, 80 are currently active. The WCDoA and Casidra contributed positively towards this project by assisting with the testing of five boreholes to...
Seasons Find Chicken Abattoir
Casidra2018-11-09T08:48:40+02:00 Seasons Find is a chicken abattoir project situated 2 km outside Hopefield in the West Coast region and is owned by two beneficiaries, Tyrone Poole and his wife. The project started way back in 2004 when it operated as a chicken abattoir for broilers. There has been excellent growth at this project since its inception, particularly in terms of job creation. Approximately 30 seasonal workers and 12 permanent workers...
Casidra – Gold Award Winner in Public Sector
Casidra2018-11-09T08:48:47+02:00 Casidra walked away with a gold award during the Western Cape Regional Productivity awards’ ceremony held at the Table Bay Hotel, in the Waterfront on the 9th September 2014. The company won the Public Sector Category, in which competed with four other institutions. The awards were adjudged from four categories, namely, the Public Sector Category, Emerging Sector Category, Corporate Sector Category and Co–operative Category. The assessment criterion for these...
CASIDRA ACHIEVES ITS 25TH CLEAN AUDIT IN A ROW SINCE INCEPTION
Casidra2018-11-09T08:48:52+02:00 Casidra continues to maintain its clean audit status after earning its 25th unqualified financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2014. This was confirmed by the External Auditors during Casidra’s Annual General Meeting before Adv. Gary Oliver, Chairperson, handed over the 2013/14 Annual Report to the Executive Authority, Minister Alan Winde. This is another excellent achievement for Casidra as a State-Owned Company, its Board, Management, staff and all...
From the CEO’s desk
Casidra2018-11-09T08:48:57+02:00For Casidra, 2014 has been themed as the year of “Consolidation of Changes” after 2013 saw many internal organisational changes being initiated. Huge emphasis was placed on gearing the organisation through internal processes and organisational restructuring as well as aligning itself to effectively react to client needs. To this effect, a lot was done in the area of technological systems and staff realignment/re-assignment. A number of achievements have been...