Mechanisation boost as NW farmers receive key implements

Farmers and communal property associations (CPAs) in Tigane, near Klerksdorp, are set to benefit from a tractor and other agricultural implements handed over recently by North West MEC for agriculture and rural development, Madoda Sambatha.

According to the department, the handover was a necessary intervention aimed at addressing the lack of access to agricultural machinery among small-scale and emerging farmers and strengthening farming activities in rural communities.

The tractor will be used as a shared service, benefiting farmers from the Seven Seasons, Oblate, Thusanang and Ikageng CPAs in the Tigane community. In addition to the tractor, the department also handed over a boom sprayer and disc plough to strengthen the farmers’ operational capacity.

Breaking production barriers to empower farmers

Limited access to mechanisation remains a major barrier to agricultural production, particularly among emerging farmers. Providing farmers with the necessary equipment is therefore critical to improving productivity, increasing yields and strengthening household and community food security.

One of the beneficiaries and a local farmer, Ramasimane Kalaote, expressed appreciation for the support.

“I want to thank our MEC for agriculture and rural development in the North West, Madoda Sambatha. This will go a long way in assisting us as emerging farmers around here in Tigane. Farming without the necessary implements can be difficult, but we are grateful for this support and promise that the equipment will be put to good use,” Kalaote said.

Sambatha said providing farmers with access to machinery was essential to improving agricultural production and supporting livelihoods in under-resourced rural areas.

“We have handed over a tractor and other implements to assist small-scale and emerging farmers in Tigane. This support will help increase commodity yields and sustain livelihoods through improved access to mechanisation.

“This intervention speaks directly to our commitment to uplifting rural farming communities. The tractor and implements we are handing over today are not just machinery; they are essential tools for increasing production, strengthening livelihoods and improving food security,” Sambatha said.

Strengthening rural NW communities

He added that the intervention forms part of the province’s broader strategy to transform the agricultural sector, reduce poverty and strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers.

Sambatha noted that through these interventions, the department is strengthening farmers’ access to the resources they need to increase production, improve livelihoods and contribute to food security across the province.