A Bobcat B730 backhoe loader has played a major role at the Manger Care Centre’s SD & ED project in Benoni, Johannesburg.

The project aims to provide accredited agricultural training to rural communities in Benoni, where Manger Care Centre’s sustainable farm has 15 small and four large vegetable tunnels, and four polyhouse tunnels, with five at Manger Marine producing seedlings. High-quality organic spinach is grown and sold to the local community.

Bobcat was approached by Manger Care Centre as part of its normal fundraising drive, SD & ED Projects PA Naidene Andersson explains. It expressed an interest in the sustainable agricultural initiative in particular, and agreed to dispatch the B730 to Benoni on Mandela Day 2018 to assist in ground preparation to extend carpentry workshop and the new greenhouse tunnels.

“We wish to extend our sincere gratitude to the Bobcat team, including the operator and truck driver, who participated in this initiative. Your hard work and enthusiasm were truly inspiring,” Andersson comments. She adds that seeing the B730 in action was an ‘amazing’ experience.

The B730 backhoe loader is a versatile ‘back-to-basics’ beast featuring a 100 hp Perkins four-cylinder turbocharged engine, standard ZF power shift transmission, and ZF axles. It must also be noted that the double-mounted front bucket cylinder allows for better breakout force.

Possibly one of the most attractive features of the B730 is its reduced maintenance costs, thanks to the bolt-type cylinder head design on all hydraulic cylinders,” Bobcat Equipment South Africa GM Brian Rachman comments.

“Now that the global village is leaning towards a greener lifestyle and reduced carbon footprint, it has become notably important not only for us, but for the entire industry, to consider the environment,” Bobcat Equipment South Africa Marketing Manager Madel Dalla Pria elaborates. “Partnerships like these offer hope that the environment will be developed and sustained for a better world for all.”

Andersson highlights that Bobcat went above-and-beyond the call of duty in assisting Manger Care Centre on Mandela Day 2018. “The size of our organisation, and the scale of the various projects we embark upon, means that assistance from corporates is vital. We often have donors providing assistance, but what Bobcat delivered far exceeds anything we have received in the past,” she concludes.