Congratulations echoed through the community of Keiskammahoek in the Eastern Cape when crop farmer Siphosihle Maseko received machinery from the Eastern Cape MEC for the department of rural development and agrarian reform (DRDAR), Nonkqubela Pieters.
Pieters handed over a tractor and implements and said the operational mechanisation that the government has given to Maseko should be able to improve his business.
‘We want to see growth’
According to the department, the gesture of handing over the equipment is aimed at ensuring that black commercial farmers in the province receive the necessary support to improve their businesses to make more profit and be able to create jobs.
“We don’t want farmers that are always emerging and waiting for handouts from government. Through our investments in your enterprises, we want to see black commercial farmers as the majority now are white.
“Agriculture is a business and it should not be practised leisurely. The government wants to see returns from investments like these,” said Pieters.
She added that the Eastern Cape, government cannot afford to be always pumping money to farmers that are not growing, which is why farmers need to graduate.
She urged the youth to follow in the footsteps of Maseko and begin to make a living instead of depending on their parents or engaging in criminal activities.
“We are here today to assist a young farmer to produce more and excel in farming. If Sihle can do it, what prevents other young people from getting up and doing something for themselves?”
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Impacting a community
Maseko, who holds a diploma in agricultural science, started in 2021 with only a hectare but now he is producing on 15 hectares, where the family owns 5ha and the remaining 10ha forms part of a 10-year lease from the community.
He produces various vegetables ranging from cabbages and butternut to green mealies, and employs 10 people.
His market extends to other districts such as Chris Hani and OR Tambo and his regular buyers are based in areas like Middledrift, Alice, Keiskammahoek, East London, Peddie, and others in the Amathole district.
“I’m very excited about this support as it will make me produce more and grow my business to become a commercial farmer.
“I want to be able to create more jobs for my community and inspire more youth to join this sector. The youth should realise that they can make a good living out of this sector,” Maseko said.
The MEC also handed over cropping inputs, including maize seeds and fertiliser to the Keiskammahek community projects.
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