NEW FORT COX COLLEGE COUNCIL TO REPURPOSE INSTITUTION

THE Fort Cox College of Agriculture and Forestry has formally appointed and inducted its council set to serve a term of three years. In terms of section 9.1 of Act 16 0f 2006, every Public College must establish a Council.

The College Council’s role is to establish and monitor systems and processes to set strategic direction, establish the purpose, values, goals and objectives of the college as well as to identify and manage performance expectations and monitor achievements. To adhere to the COVID-19 combating measures like maintaining the stipulated social distance of two metres and avoiding crowded areas, the induction program of the Fort Cox College took place through a virtual teleconference platform ‘Teams Meeting’.

The nomination and induction process was organized by the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) with the services of an external facilitator to ensure fairness and eliminate any shadow of impartiality. With the institution of learning being among those at the centre of agriculture in the province, MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nomakhosazana Meth highlighted the crucial role of the council and the institution in inculcating the culture of commercial farming especially in rural areas. Meth said the council has to hit the ground running.

“Entrepreneurship, enterprise development, food security, integrated and improved agriculture are what you should strive for if we are to drive rural development in the province. There is no time to waste. Let’s work together to rebrand the sector and repurpose the college and move away from

She added: “The school of agricultural training and education has always been poorly controlled, both in terms of curriculum content and qualification of educators while the informal training was, to a large extent, untested in terms of quality. Historically, white institutions, as I speak and are still relatively better resourced in terms of infrastructure that supports training, education and human resources while historically black institutions are poorly resourced”.

Meth said her department was busy facilitating partnerships between young farmers and commercial agro-business enterprises where the commercial business is requested to mentor, train and provide off-take agreements to enable the mentees to penetrate new markets. In this financial year this programme is targeting a total of 150 young farmers.

“The department is also dedicating specific programmes to build a capacity of 50 unemployed agricultural graduates to be trained as agricultural training assessors, facilitators, auctioneers, livestock agents, insurance brokers, etc.

This initiative is meant to broaden the opportunities of young agricultural graduates beyond the traditional activities that are associated with the sector,” said Meth. In her parting shot, Meth said there is a widely held sentiment among farmers and agribusiness leaders that South African agricultural colleges can no longer be trusted to produce appropriately trained and technically skilled professionals.

The newly inducted chairperson of the Council, Dr Pumezo Lupuwana assured the stakeholders that change was imminent. Dr Lupuwana conceded that he and his team had a big task ahead in turning things around at the college and went on to attribute the decline in the quality and quantity of graduates from the school to administrative challenges.

“The MEC (Meth) has made it clear what she expects from us. And ours will be to oversee the implementation of the department’s strategy and to a certain extent enforce it if needs be,” he said. Dr Lupuwana holds a PhD in Philosophy of Ethno Botany from the University of Fort Hare. He has extensive work experience of 40 years in both the private and public sector with 16 years in the public sector where he served as a regional director at the Department of Roads and Public Works.

In the private sector he once worked as an academic programme head support at Khanya College which was an affiliate of the Southern African Committee for Higher Education. Dr Lupuwana said while with the Department of Public Works he also worked with rural communities through the Extended Public Works Project where he assisted rural residents to establish rural economy using the little natural resources they had in their disposal like water and land –an experience which he said would come in handy in spreading the culture of establishing rural economy among young graduate farmers from rural areas.

Dr Lupuwana is not new in the position he has been installed in. Prior to joining the college, he was the chairperson of the council at the University of Fort Hare for two terms and later served as chairperson for the Fort Cox College’s interim council from 2018 to 2019.

Dr Lupuwana’s deputy is seasoned leader Ambassador Mandisa Marasha who has successfully led in various fields in and outside the country. Ambassador Mandisa Marasha holds a degree in nursing from the University of South Africa and boasts years of experience in leadership roles starting from the dawn of democracy in the country where she served as MEC for the Eastern Cape Department of Transport in 1994 before her stint with the Department of Public Administration.

She has also served as the Speaker of the Eastern Cape Legislature ahead of her giant leap to be the ambassador of South Africa in countries like Greece, Cyprus, Serbia, Sweden, Latvia and Bosnia where she resigned in 2015. She said her experience in the provincial government would add value in steering the institution to the desired trajectory.

“My involvement in government was communitybased and everything was about communities. And if one looks at what the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform looks to do with the college, it talks directly to my expertise where rural development is at the core of rural economy development and sustainability,” she said. She also expressed her delight in how the department and the elective process recognized gender equality in forming up the council.

18 farmers set to benefit from R105m Jobs funds

At least 18 job intensive farming enterprises are set to benefit from the R105 million Jobs Funds that is targeting Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME’s) with the potential to create jobs.

In the 2019/20 financial year, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development in collaboration with the Jobs Fund and Land Bank launched an Agriculture funding programme worth R104 337 362,17 in the Eastern Cape.

This is according to a report from the office of the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) Chief Director for District Coordination Hamilton Ntsabo. The commodities earmarked to stimulate jobs consist of Poultry, Piggery, Smallstock, Beef, Macadamia, Citrus, Vegetables as well as Cotton, Ntsabo said in report – adding that “the grain commodity was not included.”

The Eastern Provincial Jobs Fund Programme is coordinated by Ntsabo who also represents the Province in the National Jobs Fund Committee where briefings between DRDAR, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development were held to outline and elaborate the initiative. Ntsabo says the Deputy Directors for economics are responsible for coordinating the programme at District level and this is done in collaboration with the affected farmers and sector stakeholders at large.

“The farming community was briefed extensively about the programme. Farmers were orientated about the Programme to an extent that they were assisted at ensuring that they understand the full requirements expected from them,” Ntsabo said.

He said, prior to submitting to the National Committee, the applications were submitted by the farmers to the District offices and the applications were pre-evaluated at the Provincial level in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. He says the evaluation of applications was done by the Jobs Fund National Committee and a team from DARLR led the physical assessment of farms in the Province where prospective applicants were assessed by team which comprised of provincial officials.

“The assessment of farms by the National team was intended to confirm facts outlined on the application documents. It was also an opportunity for the National team to assess commodities with potential to create much needed jobs in the Province,” he said. He said the National Committee evaluated all the applications and conclusions were reached after a lengthy process, where the prospective farming enterprises were nominated and are awaiting approval by national department.

Production of sanitisers makes name for Dohne Agricultural Development Institute

The involvement of the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) scientific technicians in the production of sanitisers has triggered the thought of extending the usage of the scientific lab at the Dohne Agriculture Institute.

A team of scientific technicians led by Zolani Mkile the Scientific Manager at Analytical Services is behind the production of Donhe Sanitisers. According to one of the enthusiastic Control Scientific Technician, Bulelwa Ngcangatha who was “over the moon” about her involvement in the programme conducted with Rhodes University to produce 900 litres of sanitisers.

“The production of the sanitisers has not only made a mark for the lab but it has shown how important the department is. It is a testimony that there are many things we can produce or help in other than plant production in this lab,” said Ngcangatha who is dealing with water, soil and plant science.

“I am very grateful to become part of the team that we have seen that “We can extend to do other things that can help our communities. COVID-19 has shown us other opportunities in this lab.

“We felt important as scientists by assisting in helping the world to prevent the spread of virus,” she added.

She said while it was her first time to produce sanitisers, her background in the anatical chemistry that has the basics needs of production of different products assisted them to produce a mixture of 80% alcohol-based sanitiser from ethanol, glycerol and hydrogen peroxide in line with the World Health Organisation regulations.

Most of the 25 litre packaged sanitisers, according to Zolani Mkile were distributed through the MEC visit to farmers and various communities while others were donated to Stutterheim Hospital, Old Age home, Amathole Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as well as the municipality. Some sanitisers were used by Veterinary Services within the department.

SPRING WATER PROTECTION CHANGING LIVES

The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform’s Rural Appropriate Technology Unit (RATU) has brought about the much-needed change in the lives of many in the province by providing them with fresh water at within a stone’s throw distance. The project sources water from perennial uphill springs by first protecting them from both animals, dirt and siltation and then channel the water to strategically located communal taps for easy access and use by households.

The provision of the precious resources hasn’t only fulfilled the Constitutional right of access to water by citizens, but it has also seen the resuscitation of agricultural co-ops in areas like Gobhoti Village under the Engcobo Local Municipality, while in Hlangalani Village in Elundini Local Municipality many have gone back to their old ways of growing crops in their gardens to sustain their livelihoods. In Gobhoti Village (Ward 9), the spring water project saw 15 communal taps being installed in the area. Other residents have gone as far as drawing water from the main pipeline to their homes for easy access.

A senior resident in the village, Mzimasi Sotyato, who is also a chairperson of Lubumbano Farming Secondary Coop said since the installation of the piped water at least 11 coops that some had closed shop and others at the brink of collapse as a result of limited access to water had return to their full operations. “Coops are mushrooming left, right and center because people aren’t lazy to work the land and provide for themselves, but the issues are minor things like access to water. Since we had water in the area a lot has changed with regards to farming, even the pain of having to walk long uphill distances to fetch water is the thing of the past. Now that we have water we’d really appreciate it the department behind this can push more people to working their gardens by assisting with seedlings because people in the area are really struggling to make ends meet,” said the 70-yearold.

A local Ghoboti Junior Secondary School has also benefited from the project. Before the spring water project came into effect in Hlangalani Village in the Alfred Nzo District, residents depended on a stream located far away from the residential area. According to a resident, Oliver Gxilishe (47) the exercise of fetching water in the bushy river had made women and children targets of attacks and abuse. “Before we had water taps installed in our village we, men, had to act as guards and look after our women and children when they went to fetch water and do laundry in the river. We’d let them go on their own but in the afternoon we’d have to abandon our livestock and go sit with them up until they were through with whatever they were doing and then walk them back to the houses,” he said. Gxilishe is among those who has since gone back to work his garden after having access to water to irrigate his crops. “In my garden I plan vegetables in the form of cabbage, spinach, beetroot and carrot so I can provide healthy food for my family. The initiative has really assisted us,” said Gxilishe. The provision of water to these areas will also assist in the fight against the deadly coronavirus as one of the protective measures include washing water regularly.

According to a StatsSA report titled: “Towards measuring food security in South Africa: An examination of hunger and food inadequacy” the involvement of households in agricultural activities for subsistence farming can play an important role in reducing the vulnerability to hunger of rural and urban food-insecure households. The results show that out of 16, 2 million households, about 2,5 million households (15,6%) were involved in agricultural activities in South Africa in 2017.

“Provinces that are predominantly rural and with high levels of poverty such as Limpopo (25%), Eastern Cape (20%) and KwaZulu-Natal (20%) had the highest proportions of households that relied on agricultural activities to supply their own food. Most households involved in agricultural activities were involved in the production of fruits and vegetables, grain and other food crops, as well as in livestock and poultry farming.” The StatsSA General Household Survey Report of 2018 households will access to tap water inside their dwellings, off-site or on-site was most common among households in Western Cape (98, 7%), Gauteng (97, 1%), and Northern Cape (95,3%) and least common in Eastern Cape (75,1%) and Limpopo (74,1%).

Some of the positive outcomes derived from the implementation of spring protection include skills transfer to unskilled, poor community members as they were trained on water pipe-laying, backfilling, spring protection and maintenance; access to basic infrastructure and basic water for rural residents; job creation as local members were hired in project implementation; improved the livelihoods of the employed (albeit temporarily) as they were accordingly remunerated. Among those who also benefitted from the project through skills transference is self-employed bricklayer Gxilishe. Speaking of the skills transfer, he said: “I am a full package! I can also do pipe laying and fitting as I worked in the project as a pipe fitter. This is a skill I have always wanted because I want to build houses and do plumbing myself. And even when the pipe bursts in some areas I believe I will be the first person the implementing agent of the project will send to inspect the affected area and possible the amount of work that needs to be done,” he said.

Other spring water protection projects include Spring Protection in Hoyita, Sterkspruit, Senqu LM Xanase Village in Mbhase Local Municipality Goxe Spring Protection in Mzimvumbu Local Municipality Matyeni Spring Protection in Mzimvubu Local Municipality Gobhoti Spring Protection in Engcobo Local Muncipality.

Cooperative governance brings relief to needy during COVID-19 pandemic

A TOTAL of 100 households in Ward 29 of Ngquza Local Municipality in Flagstaff were the latest social group to benefit from a social relief of distress programme put together through a collaborative effort by the amaMpondo king Zanozuko Sigcau, and two government departments, namely Health and that of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform. A social relief of distress is temporary provision of assistance intended for persons in such a dire material need that they are unable to meet their families’ most basic needs.

The 150 families coming from the most disadvantaged backgrounds of 10 villages which some of had gone a maximum of two days without a proper meal received food hampers with grocery items like rice, mealie-meal, sugar, cooking oil, samp and beans, teabags, salt, potatoes and other different ingredients of relish to go with their staple meals. The handing over of the packs took place at the Ndimakude Great Place on Saturday afternoon under strict observation of COVID-19 rules for gatherings with MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nomakhosazana Meth and king (Zanozuko) Sigcau in attendance. Leaders of the local and district municipalities had also formed part of Saturday’s proceedings.

The social relief of distress came after community health worker, Ntombekhaya Nodipha had asked for the king’s intervention in the families’ crisis early this year. According to Nodipha, the beneficiaries were selected based on need. “As I was doing my home visits to check if the patients were taking their treatment accordingly, I discovered that in some families there were individuals on daily treatment for chronic diseases like HIV, TB, cardiovascular diseases and many others. But what touched me the most was when I visited an elderly woman who stays with her grandchildren. In one of my visits I found the patient eating a hard mealie pap which he said was left for yesterday’s supper with sweetened water and on the second day she told me she hadn’t eaten for two days and as a result hadn’t taken her treatment,” said Nodipha. She said as she moved from one house to the next she learnt that there were many other families going through the same difficulty. “I immediately roped in the Department of Health and the king, but it was King (Zanozuko) Sigcau who wrote to the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform asking for their mediation,” she added. Almost six months later the intervention in the form of groceries was delivered to the families.

MEC Meth said the food could not have come at the right time than now when many South Africans have been restricted from earning a living by themselves due to some of the COVOD-19 mitigation measures. “It makes me happy to see collaborations like these yield good results for the people. King (Zanozuko) Sigcau did exactly what traditional leaders should be doing which is be an extension of the government by being the eyes and ears of the government in the rural areas where our people don’t know which door to knock on for help. What Nodipha did is what we should all emulate and be the voice of those who cannot speak for themselves. The coordination is very much appreciated,” she said. Meth also seized the moment to speak against the rising cases of gender-based violence and educated the beneficiaries about the novel corona virus.

The beneficiaries were also given cloth facemasks and sanitizers to intensify the fight against COVID-19. In addition, the masks and sanitizers are produced by two institutes under the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, i.e. Dohne Agricultural Development Institute and Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute, respectively. Beneficiary, Nontle Sapulana said the food would come in handy because the little she could buy from her two grandchildren’s social grants couldn’t sustain them for a full month, especially during the period when schools had temporarily closed under the COVID-19 scare. “

The children would be provided with breakfast or lunch at school through the school’s nutrition programme. But now that the children are at home, they have to get all their three meals from their grant and this results in our groceries getting finished mostly on the third week of the month,” she said. The 49-year-old is currently on treatment for two chronic illnesses and is among those who’d go days without food and subsequently defaulted on their meds.