Project Partners
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GOLDEX 35 PTY LTD |
Representative:
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Goldex 35 Pty Ltd which is a Limpopo based Agri-Business Development Company with strong links to international buyers, specialising in the export and marketing of agricultural products such as citrus, table grapes, blueberries and vegetables. At present Goldex 35 is the only company allowed to export Blueberries and Strawberries to Canada. The CEO has long experience in accessing international markets, with an extensive network of local farmers. After 1995, under the newly elected South African regime, land redistribution was introduced to alleviate the disparities in land ownership. Under this scheme land was redistributed to farmers and growers, some with no agricultural skills or capital and consequently the land became overgrown and commercial production dropped. Given the fact that 89% of the population of Limpopo Province is classified as rural, agriculture plays a major role in the economic development of rural areas of the province. 58,000 hectares are in the hands of black small-scale farmers. The small holder farms are located mostly in the former homeland areas and they cover approximately 30% of the provincial land surface area. Farming under the small holder systems is characterized by low level of production technology and small size of farm holding of approximately 1, 5 hectares per farmer; with production primarily for subsistence and little marketable surplus. The farmers urgently needed alternative high value products to produce dual crops for cash or alternatives to maize which could not sustain them.
Academic life of the University of Ghana is centred on Colleges, Faculties, Institutes/ Schools and Centres of Research/Learning. There are two colleges, health sciences and Agriculture and consumer sciences; Faculties of Arts, Law, Science, Engineering science, Social Studies and Business. Each of these faculties comprise of several Departments offering undergraduate and graduate programs. There are also Research Institutes and Centres offering degrees at similar levels. There are a number of institutes/colleges locally which hold affiliation with the University of Ghana for the purpose of enrolment, teaching and award of degrees and diplomas of the University.
In 2005 Goldex identified the necessity for assistance to these farmers to develop agricultural lines for the local and overseas markets to maintain Agriculture output. (According to an estimate by the government it was estimated that there are approximately 303,000 smallholder farmers in Limpopo Province. Women constituted 80% of these small holder farmers). In 2006 the company received a European Grant to research the development of a competitive production and processing industry of Nutraceuticals in Limpopo. During the annual Growth and Development Summit 2007, the company was elected to forge partnerships between National, Provincial Government and Private Sector for economic growth and development initiatives. The areas of responsibility are Agriculture Development; Agriculture processing; and Value Adding in Agriculture. The mandate and main functions are to:
- Ensure active participation for emerging farmers and marginalized communities in the Local Economic Development;
- Monitor progress and remove stakeholder blockages and ensure progress; and
- Identify priorities, link stakeholders and implementation.
In 2008 an ambitious project to turn Limpopo into a supplier of high- value essential oils to the international cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries was awarded to the company. The project was supported by grants totalling R10.5 million from the Limpopo Local Economic Development (LED) Programme which were funded by the European Union and implemented by the Department of Local Government & Housing.
Goldex is a company which has the ability and expertise to implement research studies, ensuring the development of commercial, sustainable businesses.