IN PICTURES: Zuma reaches out to farmers

All communities need to have a garden to ease the burden of escalating food prices, said the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for agriculture and rural development Super Zuma. He was speaking at a gathering in KwaDabhazi and KwaNongoma.

Addressing small-scale and subsistence growers, Zuma said: “government is willing to work with communities to ensure that people who are solely dependent on farming, save money and are able to buy other household needs. People can easily feed on produce from the garden to support their families and society.”

Zuma pointed out that the recent increase in food prices makes it difficult for our people to keep up with food security and sustain livelihoods.

The MEC also raised the issue of water scarcity, which has been an ongoing challenge in this area. The department has since constructed dams and boreholes in the area.

These services will play a huge role in ensuring that there is enough water for both human and animal consumption in the area. It will also assist residents to implement the “one home, one garden” initiative.

Overcoming challenges

MEC Super Zuma also put emphasis on challenges faced by livestock farmers in communal areas such as livestock theft, lack of infrastructure and high mortality rates due to animal diseases and parasites.

“It is undisputed that animal health care services provided by our department play a major role in ensuring that animals are given the optimum amount of care and treatment that is beneficial to their health at all times. This is why we are building and revitalising livestock infrastructure throughout the province,” said Zuma

The department intends to roll out the communal livestock improvement programme in all districts of KwaZulu-Natal through the utilisation of the Yellow Plant Programme to assist farmers that were severely affected by the recent floods and provide continuous animal health care support and services.