On the 17 April 2007 Teba Development had a Field Day in the Gaur project in Thulamahashe in Mpumalanga. This is a pilot project implemented with Womiwu Rural Development. Until now guar has only been grown in Asia for human consumption. The gum inside the bean has become more sought-after; after more uses on it are discovered. It is used in food processing industries such as ice cream, meat and bakery industries and in platinum processing.

 

“The project started with a research and development manager of Anglo Platinum who brought the plant to our attention and after four to five years of intensive research and development and accessing funding from the European Union we are now able to launch this project” Sarel Eloff, the developer.  

 

The mines mix the gum with platinum ore when they crush it. The platinum sticks to the gum. “Mines can use a chemical to extract the platinum from the ore which they are currently using to a large degree, but this is an environmental friendly product and is more effective because it allows the mines to extract ten percent more of their platinum out of the rock” David Cooper, Managing Director of Teba Development.

 

The guar plant grows in dry hot areas and this is an ideal crop for emerging farmers in arid land. During the pilot project 54 emerging community farmers planted 30 hectares of the crop. There is an estimated demand of 10 000 tonnes in South Africa which would require an area of 30 000 hectares of the crop to be planted annualy. The farmers can earn up to R4,400 per hectare, which is more than traditional crops like maize.   

 

“I decided to plant this plant because it was interesting for me because we are the first community farmers in South Africa to plant this guar plant and the mining industry will rely on us if we are successful in planting this guar plant ” a participating farmer.