SanLei Premium Trout, Africa’s largest trout farm, has only donated R5,000 to the local community fund, failing to fulfill its commitment to community support as required by the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority. Local farmers report worsening conditions including soil erosion and loss of crops, while the Catchment Resilience Fund initiative collapsed within a year. The dam’s construction and changes in climate have further exacerbated challenges for local agriculture.
SanLei Premium Trout, which claims to be Africa’s largest trout farm, has made minimal contributions to the community fund in the Katse Dam catchment, only donating R5,000 in an attempt to secure a licence from the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA). Despite the promise of community benefits, local farmers report deteriorating conditions such as soil erosion and overgrazing. The company’s contribution to the Catchment Resilience Fund (CaRe Fund) has reportedly not been utilized for promised environmental projects as stated in official reports.
SanLei is operated by South Africa’s Mergence Asset Managers, with the Lesotho Public Officers’ Pension Fund as its primary investor. The company’s CEO, Dewald Fourie, noted that trout production is at 1,000 tons per year, with plans to double this by 2030. However, the impact of the dams constructed in the 1990s has severely affected local farmers’ land and livelihoods. Not all farmers received compensation for land loss, leading to struggles with erosion and resource depletion.
The CaRe Fund aimed to incentivize local farmers in the Khokhoba area to manage rangelands effectively, but reports indicate a collapse of the initiative within a year. The fund’s money was reportedly misallocated towards loans for community members and minor infrastructure rather than the promised environmental management projects. Community leaders expressed disappointment at the fund’s failure to benefit the village.
Relebohile Ntoi, a compliance officer for SanLei, stated that the company contributed M60,000 to the initiative, but acknowledged that only R5,000 had been disbursed to the community. Past climate management projects, funded by USAID, also ceased in 2018, exacerbating the community’s challenges as the organization withdrew support.
The dam’s alterations to the ecosystem have led to negative agricultural impacts such as increased soil loss and changes in climate patterns, ultimately contributing to food insecurity in the region. Local residents have voiced concerns regarding earlier frost occurrences, which result in crop failures and heightened hunger. The LHDA continues to regulate the area’s fishing licenses but has not responded to inquiries regarding the accountability of SanLei’s contributions to the CaRe Fund.
The situation surrounding SanLei Premium Trout and the Catchment Resilience Fund highlights significant shortcomings in the company’s commitment to local communities despite its claims of investment and benefit. With reports of environmental degradation, increased food insecurity, and improper fund usage, it is evident that the local population has seen little return on the aquaculture project. Furthermore, the cessation of support from organizations like USAID raises questions about the future of community assistance.
Original Source: groundup.org.za