Through the KwaNobuhle essential oils project, in Uitenhage, in the Eastern Cape, a new crop with significant market potential has been introduced to the local community, Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom has said.

The project, which was launched by Hanekom in September, was implemented by the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR’s) Enterprise Creation for Development Unit, in collaboration with the European Union (EU), which provided funding through its Innovation for Poverty Alleviation programme.

Addressing about 1 000 members of the nearby community at the project site, CSIR group executive for strategic alliances and stakeholder engagement Rachel Chikwamba pointed out that essential oils was a high-value industry and that the Eastern Cape’s favour-able farming conditions presented a unique opportunity for communities to take advant-age of this.

Rose geranium, which is used to manufac-ture fragrances, flavours, cosmetics and house- hold products, as well as being used in aroma-therapy is grown on the 30 ha farm, which currently employs 31 full-time employees.

“The KwaNobuhle project has consistently produced oil of above average quality, which demonstrates the value of transferring modern agroprocessing technology and farming skills to community farmers. “The project is nearing the stage where it can be transformed into a fully integrated, sustainable business in favour of the local community,” CSIR essential oils and medicinal plants manager Dr Marthinus Horak commented.

Chikwamba further pointed out that the community not only participated in the farming of the rose geranium, but was also involved in the distilling process.

The project is expected to produce 900 kg of the essential oil a year once it reaches full production.

After the plants are harvested and the oil distilled, the oil is sent to a central processing facility at the CSIR, in Pretoria, for further refinement before it is sold locally and internationally.

Chikwamba added that the product had a high market demand.

Hanekom stated that projects such as Kwa-Nobuhle formed part of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST’s) contribution to the vision of a better South Africa and the vision contained in the National Development Plan.

“When a project like this succeeds, it pro-motes economic freedom and dignity,” he said, adding that it also tackled one of the country’s most significant challenges – job creation.

Meanwhile, EU Ambassador Roeland van de Geer emphasised that the most important aspect of the EU’s support did not relate to the funding that was provided, but rather to the sharing of expertise and skills.

He added that while the project had a strong science and technology component, it also featured sustainability, job creation and economic development components.

“This project ticks the boxes relating to the areas of importance that South Africa and the EU have agreed upon – job creation, poverty alleviation and the best use of natural resources,” Van de Geer explained.

He added that the EU’s sector budget sup-port to South Africa, through its Innovation for Poverty Alleviation programme, which amounted to R12-billion between 2008 and this year, focused on rural development and poverty alleviation, as opposed to building infrastructure.