Eastern Cape MEC for agriculture, Nonceba Kontsiwe, marked the close of Women’s Month with a powerful gesture aimed at empowering women farmers. During a ceremony at Nqadu Great Place in Willowvale, she handed over a tractor with its implements and a Nguni bull to AmaXhosa queen Nozizwe Sigcau.
The donation forms part of the department’s ongoing efforts to boost agricultural development, create job opportunities, and strengthen food security in the province.
Sigcau described the initiative as “encouraging” for women in agriculture. She emphasised the vital role that women play in food production, noting that children often rely on their mothers for sustenance.
She stressed the importance of producing food not only to feed families but also for local markets, thereby strengthening the economy. “In this Women’s Month, I’m thrilled about what the department has done for us. We’ll strive to empower women to feed their families,” Sigcau said.
Highlighting the potential impact on schools, she added that local food production could support nutrition programmes instead of depending on external sources.
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Committed to empowerment
The initiative is in line with the Eastern Cape department of agriculture’s strategy to empower women in the sector, address food insecurity, and drive economic growth.
Kontsiwe explained the department’s motivation: “We understand the kingdoms have women doing programmes to develop the local economy, so we are here to assist.”
She also called for greater productivity in the community, saying, “We want the people of Nqadu to work the land, to plough gardens and fields.”
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