Third packhouse opens in North West as Moretele farmers get cold rooms and a borehole

Emerging farmer Thapelo Madumo now has a place to grade, wash, pack and cold-store his vegetables before they go to market, after the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development handed over the Cassper Agri-Life Vegetable Packhouse in Mogogelo Village, Moretele Local Municipality, on Tuesday.

MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Madoda Sambatha officially handed over the facility. It is the third agricultural packhouse the department has launched in the province, following the MOR Farming Packhouse in Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality and the Jantjies Boerdery Lucerne Packhouse in Greater Taung Local Municipality.

The department funded and established a fully equipped packhouse, production tunnels, a borehole, a backup generator and mobile cold room facilities. According to the department, the resources are intended to improve production capacity, preserve the quality of harvested vegetables and help farmers reach wider markets.

The facility is expected to increase vegetable production, improve market access for local farmers and create employment opportunities in Moretele. The two vegetable packhouses prepare fresh produce for market, while the lucerne packhouse in Greater Taung supports fodder producers with baling, packaging and storage.

Madumo, who also receives agricultural extension services from the department, said the support had changed how he sees his work. “I am truly grateful for the packhouse and the extension services that I have been receiving. These resources have strengthened my farming journey and given me confidence to grow and improve,” he said.

“The guidance and support from the department have shown me that farming is not just about producing food. It is about building a future and creating opportunities.”

His advice to young people interested in agriculture was that government help follows effort rather than replacing it. “My advice is simple. You need to start and put in the work before you can ask for help from the department. Farming requires commitment and discipline. You need to change your attitude as farmers, embrace hard work, and show dedication. Once you take that step, support will follow and you will see the difference it makes,” he said.

Sambatha said the infrastructure spending is meant to put farmers in a position to trade. “The department remains committed to creating an enabling environment for farmers to thrive. Through strategic investments in agricultural infrastructure, we are improving market access, reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring that farmers can participate meaningfully in the agricultural value chain while contributing to food security and rural economic development,” he said.

Bojanala Platinum District Municipality Executive Mayor Suzan Nthangeni said Moretele has agricultural potential that residents should use. “Moretele is a home of agriculture, and we must stand up and use that strength. Our community members should make full use of the municipality and the DARD offices to access information that can uplift them,” she said.

Nthangeni also called for more young people from Moretele and Bojanala to take up farming. “Farming is the future, and it will bring us joy to see more young people from Moretele and Bojanala succeed in the agricultural sector,” she said.

The department has not said in this account how many farmers the facility will serve, what it cost, or when the next packhouse will be built. What it has recorded is a third facility in a province where smallholder farmers have had to sell produce without grading, washing or cold storage behind them.

This report is based on the SAnews (South African Government News Agency) account of the handover, published on 22 October 2026, rather than on the department’s own records. The original can be read at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/packhouse-gives-nw-farmers-hope-brighter-future.