The uMkhanyakude district was alight with celebration and gratitude as KwaZulu-Natal’s department of agriculture and rural development launched the 2023-2024 multi-planting season. This initiative, under the guidance of MEC Super Zuma, aims to position the province as the epicentre of Southern Africa’s food production.
Farmers in the district were bestowed with machinery, farming implements, and seedlings during the roll-out. The efforts were lauded by hundreds of farmers who commended Zuma for his commitment to poverty eradication and the subsequent job opportunities created through the department’s programme.
Thembeni Gumede, chairperson of the Ndumo B. cooperative, expressed gratitude for interventions that elevated their project to unprecedented heights. She credited the department for providing essential knowledge, skills, market exposure, and vital stakeholder connections. Gumede emphasised that these interventions have the potential to transform lives and bridge the gap between emerging and commercial farmers in the region.
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Planting progress and future plans
The multi-planting season saw approximately 2 000 hectares planted across the district, with a significant 100 hectares cultivated at the eNdumo B. cooperative in Jozini’s ward 13.
Zuma commended the uMkhanyakude farmers for consistently delivering high-quality produce and outlined the intention to bolster small-scale farmers’ productivity. He stressed the need to integrate these farmers into the provincial agricultural economy while enhancing rural agricultural practices.
A call to action against poverty and malnutrition
In an impassioned plea, Zuma urged more significant community involvement in agriculture to combat poverty and address the province’s high unemployment rate. Highlighting the community’s reputation for supplying high-quality produce, he encouraged those yet to plant to join the effort in alleviating poverty and malnutrition.
Zuma outlined the “One home, one garden” programme and its expansion to religious institutions and schools, aiming to address food insecurity and hunger. He emphasised the importance of collective action, inviting churches and schools to join hands with the department in this vital initiative.
Inkosi Mathenjwa of the Mathenjwa Traditional Council expressed gratitude for the department’s transformative work in the community. He highlighted water challenges as a significant hindrance to farmers but praised the department’s plans to address these issues, foreseeing life-changing outcomes.
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