The North West government through the department of agriculture, rural development and land reform has set aside R91 million for the next financial year to deal with agricultural infrastructure backlog. According to the acting premier Nono Maloyi it was hindering economic growth and job creation.
Speaking during the State of the Province Address earlier in the week, Maloyi said over 800 farmers in the province were set to benefit from the provincial government’s intervention.
Maloyi said it was important for the government to intervene with a key focus of ensuring that farmers have resources to grow and produce and have access to markets.
Empowering farmers
He reiterated the importance of investing in the sector as a way to ensure that it grows. “The agriculture sector is yet to reach its full potential through meaningful participation of emerging farmers in this growing sector,” Maloyi said.
As one of the critical infrastructure inputs, Maloyi said in the coming financial year, land would be disbursed to 300 farmers. “This will see the extension of farming to many other irrigated areas as well as dry-land farming in rural areas. The province will further transfer leased land to 614 farmers for ownership.
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“This intervention is intended to strengthen and empower emerging black farmers to join [the] mainstream economy,” he said.
Further, another R77 million will be used to empower farmers with inputs such as livestock, feeds and medication. About 81 farmers will be supported with 1 734 goats.
According to Maloyi, the government has rolled out different agricultural developmental programmes including the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) that enables access to infrastructure for smallholder farmers so that they progress towards commercialisation.
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