SanLei Premium Trout, claiming to be Africa’s largest trout farm, contributed a total of R5,000 to the Catchment Resilience Fund, which has subsequently failed. This lack of financial commitment raises concerns regarding the local community’s benefits. Local farmers report worsening conditions due to the dam’s construction, leading to agricultural losses and heightened food insecurity.
SanLei Premium Trout, which claims to be the largest trout farm in Africa, contributed merely R5,000 to the community fund in the Katse Dam catchment area. This contribution was made in compliance with a requirement from the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) to demonstrate how local communities would benefit from its operations. However, the Catchment Resilience Fund, intended to support local environmental initiatives, has reportedly collapsed within a year of its inception.
SanLei, located in the Lesotho Highlands, asserts that it has invested in initiatives aimed at aiding communities affected by environmental challenges, including overgrazing and soil erosion. Despite this claim, local farmers have reported adverse effects from the operations, such as land degradation resulting from the dam’s construction, which has led to challenges like soil erosion and decreased vegetation. While some farmers received compensation for land loss, others are left struggling with these deteriorating conditions.
The CaRe Fund was established to encourage Khokhoba farmers to enhance rangeland management within the degraded dam catchment area, according to Mergence’s 2023 impact report. The intention was for the fund to facilitate community-led environmental projects through proper management protocols. However, community member ‘Malieketso Ramokoatsi reported that the fund was misused for personal loans and construction of a village chief’s office, leading to its eventual collapse.
SanLei’s environmental officer, Relebohile Ntoi, claimed that the company invested M60,000 into the rangeland project, but later acknowledged that only M5,000 was actually directed to the community. The community has expressed that any climate mitigation efforts were primarily funded by USAID, which withdrew its support in 2018.
Khokhoba resident ‘Mamolapo Khethisa highlighted the negative impact of the dam, noting the increased frequency of hailstorms causing soil erosion, coupled with early frosts harming crops. These environmental changes have resulted in significant agricultural losses, exacerbating food insecurity within the community. Despite suggestions from the LHDA for SanLei to revitalize the fund, no plans have yet been established to address the ongoing community needs.
In summary, SanLei Premium Trout has faced criticism for its minimal financial contributions to the local community while claiming to be a leading trout farming operation. The Catchment Resilience Fund, established to support environmental management, has failed to yield meaningful benefits, leading to frustrations among local residents regarding the exploitation of their resources and environmental degradation. The community continues to suffer from adverse agricultural impacts attributed to the changes in their environment since the dam’s construction, underscoring the need for accountability and effective management by SanLei and the LHDA.
Original Source: groundup.org.za
