2021/22 Policy Speech
DRDAR MEC Nonkqubela Pieters tabling the 2021/22 Policy Speech at the Eastern Cape Legislature.
Campaign to make
Campaign to make ‘own food’ fashionable
THE National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development in partnership with the Eastern Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform are inculcating a culture of ‘own food’ production at both school and household level.
Today [March 25] the two institutions which are both catalyst of agriculture set foot in Ngqushwa under the Amathole District Municipality to launch the School Food Gardens and Right to Learn Campaign.
At the launch the two departments handed over gardening tools to local co-operatives and two local schools, namely Feni Primary and Nathaniel Pamla High. Learners from the two institutions of learning were also aided with backpacks and sanitary towels as means of support and creating conducive learning environment.
With DRDAR pushing households to produce their own food and the Nathaniel Pamla High offering Agricultural studies as a compulsory subject though resources are limited, the departments managed to kill two birds with one stone.
Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thokozile Didiza said the gardening tools would entice learners to pursue agriculture studies even beyond school premises.
“Family members of some of the learners here are part of crop-producing initiatives in the community. And them having unlimited access to gardening tools is going to help them perfect the art of working the land and producing their own food. Even the school will be able to produce its own vegetables and meet the state-subsidized nutrition programme. Agriculture, crop production in particular mustn’t be used as punishment at schools where mischievous pupils are sent to water plants. It makes children see the sector as a form of punishment and undesirable field,” said Didiza.
The Ngqushwa area is among those that are experiencing water shortages in the Amathole District -something that hinders fluent agricultural production.
The newly appointed MEC for DRDAR in the Eastern Cape, Nonkqubela Pieters advised household food producers to look into rainwater harvesting as one of the low-cost ways to access water.
“Most parts of the province were hard hit by drought and its effects are still felt in some areas even today hence we have taken it upon ourselves to revitalize and drill boreholes. But there are even other ways a household food producer can use in order to have water for their crops and livestock like harvesting rainwater and store the precious resource in containers like tanks and buckets. We need to be creative in times like these,” said Pieters.
Didiza added that government would also look closely into the National programme of ‘one hectare; one household’ which assists households to acquire land so they can grow their own food.
She said that with the sanitary towels they wanted to bring an end to the prominent culture of school girls not going to school when they are on periods –a phenomenon that tramples on their right to education.
Grade 12 learner at Nathaniel Pamla High, Yolisa Marambana is among the pupils who wish to pursue agricultural studies and effectively carve a career in the field.
Marambana said that as much as they were passionate about agriculture, limited resources doused their spark for the sector.
“It’s demotivating because some of the things we are taught in the classroom remained an unproven theory but with the tools we received today I believe a lot will change,” she said.
The co-operatives that bagged crop-watering material, shovels, hoes, seedlings, wheelbarrows among the tools produce various types of vegetables sell their produce to local markets and in the process circulating money around the Ngqushwa area.
Nobubele Mkoko of Zamukhanyo Project said the tools would help them maximize their business.
The two government departments will extend the programme to Emabheleni Village in Healdtown tomorrow just outside Fort Beaufort.
Famers day
MEC Pieters urges rural farmers to create sustainable livelihoods out of farming
By Thozi kaManyisana
Newly appointed MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Nonkqubela Pieters
hit the ground running this morning when she visited farmers at Lucwecweni Village in Engcobo.
The MEC’s visit included attending a Farmer’s Day event graced by various commodity groups, farmers’ associations and agricultural enterprises.
Addressing farmers at the event, MEC Pieters said: “We cannot have people dying of hunger while we have land. Let us move away from ploughing for our own consumption, but let us explore the wealth creation side of agriculture.
“The department is here to assist you to progress and create sustainable livelihoods out of your produce,” she emphasised.
Acknowledging and recognising the presence of the private sector and how they were working with DRDAR to develop rural areas, the MEC said “government alone cannot completely change people’s lives, we need the private sector to assist.
“We are committed to work with all stakeholders from the traditional leaders, farmers, business people and all sectors that have interest in developing rural people.”
Farmer Lusanda Sizani who he aspires to become a commercial farmer said the farmers organised the day so that they can share knowledge and understand how government and other sectors seek to support the farmers.
“We are thirsty to plough the land and rear animals so that we can grow our economy.”
120 graduates placed
120 agriculture graduates placed on farms
By Thozi kaManyisana
The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) DGG for Agriculture Leon Coetzee yesterday welcomed 72 of the 120 graduates that will be placed in the different agricultural enterprises and in the department over the next 24 months.
The induction ceremony for the Entrepreneurial Graduate Placement Programme took place at Bhisho Showgrounds today. The remaining 48 graduates will be inducted tomorrow as the department is sticking to Covid-19 regulations.
“We are appreciating that you have shown an interest in this sector as it needs more young people to be entrepreneurs. Always know that there are no short cuts in life, stick to doing the right thing in a correct way.
“When I arrived here with my degree, I thought I knew it all but that was a serious mistake I made and I was brought down on my knees quickly so ensure that you learn as much as you can,” Coetzee said.
DRDAR director of Technology Research Services Dr Awonke Sonandi who was one of the selectors and examiners of the graduates told them that they needed to be “very dynamic and learn more things that you do not know because entrepreneurship goes far beyond being a business and you will be given vast experience by your hosts.”
Reverend Luxolo Mantini while opening the ceremony told the graduates, who mostly come from poor backgrounds, that “you are the key for your family to make a better life. The glitz and the glamour you are going to see should not make forget where you come from.”
Director of structured agriculture education and training Bukiwe Madyibi said the graduates, who will be getting R7 000 stipends for a period of 24 months, should treat themselves as the “blessed ones” because there were many applications that were received from the other graduates.
“Let us not disappoint parents and the department that has chosen you because you were chosen among many hopeful and do not take that for granted,” she added.
Fort Hare University Agriculture Economics graduate Neliswa Mate from Peddie said the “programme came at a ripe because I had started my business for layers and this will assist me to grow further. The seed of entrepreneurship is already on the soil and I thank DRDAR for coming with this programme that will us the seed to grow.”
Xola Joboda said he was grateful to be part of the programme.
The graduates will be hosted by the Humansdorp Ko-op, Talitha Pharma, Summerpride, DICLA, Sunnyside, Eden Agri,Ukhanyo Farmer Dev, SM Livestock, Lisa Lightfoot, Shiloh and DRDAR’s Vet services
Mbashe LM back to school
DRDAR MEC Nomakhosazana Meth together with Deputy Minister for Human Settlements Pam Tshwete yesterday handed over school shoes to pupils at Lower Bufumba Senior Primary School in Mbhashe Local Municipality.
2021 back to school campaign
MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Nomakhosazana Meth handed over seedlings and fertilisers during the back to school campaign in Coffee Bay Primary School.
The MEC was accompanying deputy minister for human settlements, water and sanitation Pam Tshwete in a visit to the school.
“We want people to produce their own food,’” she said when she announced that 34 families were provided with cabbage, spinach, carrots and onion seedlings.
The MEC said in the King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality, the department has supported 800 households through the Siyazondla Household Programme while 1 613 ha of land was with maize planted during this cropping.
On infrastructure, MEC Meth said 66,82 kilometre of fence was erected in the KSD while four new shearing sheds were provided to farmers.
“This region is rich with natural resources hence we are calling on people to go back to the fields,” she said.
The department also provided masks to school children.