In a significant effort to combat poverty and malnutrition, the Eastern Cape department of rural development and agrarian reform has launched an R80 million cropping programme.
Set in Ngxakaxha village, an area previously marked by high poverty levels, the initiative aims to promote sustainable agricultural development and food security in the province.
Mawande Jama, a beneficiary of the programme involved in a sorghum production project, spoke about its positive impact.
“This project has assisted us greatly. We planted sorghum, and the support created job opportunities from soil preparation to harvesting and even employed rangers,” Jama said.
Social development minister Sisisi Tolashe praised the cropping programme as a crucial step in implementing government strategies to combat food insecurity and malnutrition.
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“Empowering people with skills to produce their own food reduces dependence on social grants,” Tolashe noted. She encouraged the replication of this programme across the nation, stating, “It is through initiatives like these that the government can fight malnutrition and food insecurity, as reported by Stats SA.”
Empowering farmers for sustainable growth
Nozibele Nyalambisa, a member of the portfolio committee on rural development and agrarian reform, also hailed the initiative, noting its potential to alleviate poverty.
“This cropping programme will make great strides in fighting rampant poverty in our province. By empowering people to produce their own food, we’re fostering self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on social grants,” Nyalambisa said.
The programme aims to cultivate 22 564 hectares, benefiting 10 953 communal and up-and-coming farmers. Additionally, R21.6 million has been allocated for the Import Substitute project, which focuses on local smallholder poultry producers.
From 2009 to 2023, the department has successfully planted 309 930 hectares, benefiting 51 847 smallholder producers and yielding over 538 000 tonmes of maize.
Nandi Ndudane, chief director for agricultural producer support and development at the department of rural development and agrarian reform, highlighted the programme’s potential for sustainable impact.
“We are here to say we are ready to plant summer crops, and we urge people to start planting so that we can fight poverty in the Eastern Cape. We have invested a lot in youth and female farmers,” Ndudane said. “We are working with private partners and other departments and entities, and we hope this will bring about change.”
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