May 2011

Monsanto opens third phase of maize seed plant

The third phase of Monsanto’s technologically advanced maize seed plant in Lictenburg was recently opened by by Kobus Lindeque, area Director of Mosanto in Africa.

The plant, known as Thobontle (Setswana for “great harvest”), was enlarged to supply excellent quality maize seed to farmers.  The plant will be in operation from 1 Mei.

The new phase comprises a storing facility of 220 X 36 m and approximately 140 000 bags of maize seed at around 25 kg each can be easily store at the new facility.  A new colling facility of  4000 sq meters can also accommodation 40 000 bags of maize seed under 15 ℃.  Bags for local sales as well as for export can be stored under optimum conditions at this new facility which contains state of the art grain drying and laboratoria research facilities.

The dryer can accommodate some 320 ton of maize cobs daily.  At the dryer the whole cobs are dried in drying bins to the required temperature and dryness after the leaves have been removed mechanically and thereafter the kernels are harvested from the cobs and taken to the laboratory for testing.  The seed is tested for  purity, emergence, and where necessary the presence of the Bt- or Roundup Ready genes.

“Monsanto’s aim is to provide food to all people in a sustainable manner and good quality seed is the origin of all food,” says Kobus Lindeque.
   
Construction:
a) Actual date when the work commenced: 10 08 2010.
b) Since then there have been 29 different contractors on site and 432 people involved.
c) Total hours worked on contract from August 2010 till end of March 2011  = 88750 hrs

The process from field to bag:

• Harvesting.
• Off loading at Thobontle.
• Husking and sorting (taking all the leaves from the cobs).
• Dryer at 40 degrees.
• Sheller and bulk storage of seed.
• Sizing of seeds.
• Submit sample to lab for testing.
• Chemical Batching and seed treatment.
• Bagging and palletizing of seed.
• Final quality check, warehousing waiting for distribution.
• Shipment of seed to Distribution Warehouses.