MEC Meth brings relief to families in Cradock

MEC Meth brings relief to families in Cradock

by | Jun 29, 2020 | atp1

MEC Meth brings relief to families in Cradock
Eastern Cape MEC for the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) Nomakhozana Meth brought much needed relief to 100 destitute families in Cradock whom she delivered food parcels to as part of her constituency work.
Speaking after receiving his parcels, Mxolisi Ndatya, who has no source of income, said: “I am thankful with what the MEC has given us. This has brought much desired relief to most families.”
Another resident, Lungelwa Mdekazi said of the donation: “We thank government for your support, especially in this time when kids are at home and are consuming lots of food.”
MEC Meth said she wanted to “emphasise that it was important for all government spheres to work together even beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.
“For all of us we are here to serve and service our people. We need to ensure people do not worry about food but are focused on preventing Covid-19.”
After hearing from Inxuba Yethemba Mayor Noncedo Zonke that there was an increase in the number of infected people in her municipality, MEC Meth urged people to be “vigilant and avoid” being infected.
Zonke hailed the MEC’s endeavors by assisting the municipal area she described “as one of the poorest” in the Chris Hani District.
“This social support of food will enable people to stay at home and concentrate on preventing infections. The demand for food is huge but this will make a difference,” Zonke said.
MEC Meth said the food parcels were part of the Provincial Food Bank set-up by the Premier Oscar Mabuyane where different stakeholders were making a contribution

 

Meth brought joy to the farmers

Meth brought joy to the farmers

by | Jun 29, 2020 | atp1

MEC for the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Nomakhosazana Meth brought joy to the farmers of OR Tambo District Municipality when she handed over Covid-19 relief vouchers and seedlings.

The MEC was at Machibini village in Port St John’s where she also officially handed over a house donated by former SAA CEO and businessman Vuyani Jarana to Andiswa Macitshe after her plight was highlighted by provincial Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo. 

She pointed out that government was “excited” to see private sector assisting in communities because “government cannot every corner.” 

Macintse, who couldn’t hold back tears, thanked “everyone” who has assisted her. 

The vouchers were given to a total of 312 farmers from the district while 100 households received 200 seedlings of carrots, cabbage, spinach and onion. 

One of the beneficiaries, Maziwinile Mpatu, expressed joy upon receiving the seedlings saying: “I love to plough my own vegetables because I love them while they are still fresh than buying them in the shops where they are not freshly picked.”

MEC said the Port St John’s area had “great potential” in vegetable production hence there seedlings were a good investment.

 

 

Handing over vouchers to farmers

Handing over vouchers to farmers

by | Jun 29, 2020 | atp1

THE MEC for the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Nomakhosazana Meth today handed over vouchers to farmers as part of the Covid-19 Agricultural Disaster Fund set up to ensure sustainable food production during and post the Covid-19 pandemic.
Through the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development government allocated R1,2 billion to assist smallholder and communal farmers across the country.
Briefing the MEC ahead of the handover, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Acting Chief Director, Dudu Nghona said the amounts given to farmers varied according to the needs of the farmers.
Elated MEC Meth said the vouchers were life changing to farmers who had been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Now that the farmers have received this funding, life will never be the same for them. I am glad that we also have young people who have benefited out of this.”
Chairperson of the Eastern Cape Poultry Farmers Association Mhlobo Mbane said he was grateful for the funding and urged the department to conduct strict monitoring and evaluation so as to ensure that the vouchers were used for what they are meant for. He also thanked the Department’s Extension and Advisory Services for ensure that farmers received the applications on time even under strict Level 5 lockdown regulations.
Another farmer, Nonkululeko Nduzulwana who runs a poultry and piggery farm in Buffalo City Metro received vouchers to the tune of R50 000. She said the vouchers would be used to buy more broilers and pumps for the farm. Nduzulwana’s farm supplies ANCA Poultry in Stutterheim with eight-week-old chicks every two months.
“We are grateful for the support we have received. The vouchers will go a long way in supporting us to buy more broilers and other supplies for the farm. Our dream is to increase our capacity to 300 000 because we have the market and demand,” said Nduzulwana.
72-year-old Myra Nogaga who runs a farm of 1000 layers said she really needed “this support. I feel ‘wow’. I have joy in my heart. We had experienced hardships during the lockdown because our layers died as we could not access feed. I lost about 10% of my layers. Now with these vouchers worth R50 000, I will be able to buy more. I am very grateful to government for this intervention.”
Out of the farmers who received vouchers was also 19-year-old Nomagcinandile Suduka who runs a small poultry farm in Great Kei Municipality. The teenager said she was elated to have receive vouchers to boost her poultry enterprise. “I’m going to buy more chickens as I have already build structures to accommodate more chickens. With these vouchers I will buy 100 more chickens”.
Of the10618 applications in the province, 1622 applications were successful 556 of which were women while 217 were youths. The total amount to be issued to farmers amounts to R65 694 654.
Reasons for non-approval stem from non-compliance with the criteria such as the number of years in farming, proof of access to land, annual turnover from agricultural enterprise activities of not less than R 20 000, number of jobs created by the enterprise and proof of access to markets.
To date the total number of 2612 vouchers for 875 applicants have been received. The vouchers are meant to buy feed, medication, fertiliser, and chemicals depending on the commodity of each applicant.
The breakdown per district is as follows:
Sarah Baartman 1084
Alfred Nzo 752
OR Tambo 312
Joe Gqabi 218
Amathole 312
Chris Hani 11
The outstanding 747 applicants are being processed.