A small agricultural project started with little capital in Humansdorp is going strong and produces vegetables which are sold to businesses and local people in the Kouga area.

The Loerie-Humansdorp Community Project produces 750kg of tomatoes and green peppers monthly and supports the local children’s home and soup kitchen with leftover vegetables. The land they are using was given to local people by the Kouga municipality five years ago and the municipality has continued to supply the project with free water and electricity.

Although it is only one hectare in size, about 8 000 plants are grown at the hydroponics project at a time. The project received a government grant of R10 000 as financial capital at the start.

It was established with technical assistance from PPC Cement. The head of the Loerie PPC quarry Joe van Heerden said the project had blossomed from the start.

“The special tunnel tomatoes grown here are the best crop because they have a long shelf life and are available throughout the year,” said Van Heerden.

PPC mining supervisor Patrick Laufs said the land was producing to maximum potential.

Loerie resident Jors Draai, 49, has run the project since last year as a project manager.

Draai and James Klaas were trained by PPC to operate the hydroponics project, and later Draai was tasked to run the hydroponics project in Humansdorp.

He had to relocate to Humansdorp because of his new job.

“I don’t mind travelling between Loerie and Humasdorp at the weekend because I enjoy working here,” said Draai.

Van Heerden said the project was started after the Loerie quarry began its rehabilitation with the aim of closure in 2000. The quarry is in the final stage of closure.

The quarry’s resources were used to kick-start community activities.

These included activities facilitated by the Loerie Community Projects.

Those who worked at the Loerie Community Projects included people retrenched from the quarry, pensioners and residents from farms near the quarry.

One of the Loerie Community Projects was the hydroponics – a method where plants are grown in a shaded tunnel.

“We were asked by the municipality to help start the hydroponics project in Humansdorp, and have never looked back,” said Van Heerden.

Draai works with two assistants Sophie Cornelius, 51, and Lena Kwentwe, 49, who are full-time employees at the project.

He said initially his main clients were his immediate neighbourhood but things had since changed as the local businesses knew of his produce.

“Laufs used to transport the produce to Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth in the first three months, until businesses earned my trust,” said Draai.

“There is no work in Humansdorp and I have taken this job to feed my family,” said Cornelius.