AMOS REED, a Philipstown farmer, is one of a number of Northern Cape entrepreneurs, who has received support during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Amos, this has been a particularly hard time, as
he has been battling both the economic downturn and the protracted drought that threatened his Garlic and Crop farm.
With the financial assistance from De Aar Solar Power, funding has been allocated to drill a borehole, which is now providing a much needed water source to sustain his crops. Additional funds will help ensure that Amos stays on top of his own expenses and can continue to plant even during the COVID lockdown.
“It is well known that the country’s coronavirus-induced lockdown is threatening to leave a permanent mark on fledgling businesses, some of whom were already struggling before this pandemic hit,” explained Harrisinah Theka, Economic Development Officer for De Aar Solar Power, who funded this programme as part of its Enterprise Development Programme.
Four entrepreneurs have been identified to receive funding, as part of the enterprise development programme. The entrepreneurs are being assessed on an individual basis to see how they are being affected by COVID-19, so that bespoke support is provided for each entrepreneur to ensure the sustainability of their business during the national crisis.
All beneficiaries form part of the De Aar Solar Power enterprise programme, which is aimed at entrepreneurs from the rural towns of Hanover, Britstown, Philipstown and De Aar. Amos’s business was prioritised as there was no water at the property and he would have missed the planting season.The funds have saved his crops as he would otherwise have lost the opportunity of the planting season.
“The assistance I received from De Aar Solar Power will go a long way as water is a scarce resource, especially here in Philipstown,” added Mr. Amos Reed. Angels Resource Centres, in their capacity as the De Aar Solar Power’s Rural Implementation partners and a local NPO in the Northern Cape, is assisting Amos with various relief fund applications related to food security and general agriculture support.
Other local enterprises that have also received COVID-19 funding to support their businesses’ sustainability includes Charmaine Baartman (owner of Mamfene’s Take Always, in Britstown); Jo-Anne
Matjan, owner of Jo-Anne Heavenly Treats Bakery, in Britstown; and Catherine Riet, owner of Giesingskraal Irrigation, in Britstown, who has received funding to install a solar-powered water pump
and water tanks. She has been able to save her vulnerable cattle sand continue to harvest and sell crops with the essential services certificate that has been obtained for her.
“De Aar Solar Power is helping me to create jobs in our community and for me to become a strong female farmer in the district,”concluded Charmaine Baartman.
