DM Skwatsha hands over livestock and machinery worth R35,5 m
By Thozi kaManyisana
Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Mcebisi Skwatsha officially handed over livestock and machinery worth more than R35,5 million to four farms in the Joe Gqabi District.
These farms benefited from the Economic Stimulus and Recovery Plan aimed to counter unemployment, food security and economic meltdown.
Following the announcement of the Plan by President Cryil Ramaphosa, DALRRD conceptualised intervention packages to support black commercial farmers who are leasing Land Reform Farms from the department.
The key interventions include provision of infrastructure, mechanisation and implements, livestock or production inputs, skills development and transfer through mentorship and access to the markets.
The deputy minister (DM) handed over a total of 308 Bonsmara cattle and 290 merino sheep to the four farms who also each received a tractor, trailer, scraper and fire-fighting equipment.
Speaking during the official handover of the livestock and machinery at the Vaalkop Farm in Venterstad, DM Skwatsha said he was “Inspired by what I saw” on Sunday at Wepener Farm where Imbumba Co-op that received 105 sheep from the department is operating.
“What inspired me in that farm is the involvement of young people. We are in a bid to make farming a cool thing so that it can be appealing to the young people. By having young people doing farming, we are building the future of the nation. We should be proud that some of the farmers are young. Gone are the days where we only saw elderly farmers only.
“Today is a joyous day for me as well as these farmers because this will help in ensuring they are sustainable and formidable commercial farmers. This stimulus fund is meant to play a big role in the eradication of poverty. This is a day when we all ought to be happy and I am happy to see that farmers are glad,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Kholisile Yalezo who is leading a family coop, Dikela Farm Project, based at Vaalkop Farm received 128 Bonsmara cattle. He said he was “lost for words to express gratitude.”
“I am very happy about what government has done for me. I never thought this day would come. Since I arrived in this farm in 2014, it was really unbearable and hard to operate but through perseverance I managed.
“Now that I have been provided with quality beef producing breed, it will be easy to sell my livestock after battling for years. The tears that I had have now been wiped away,” Yalezo said.
The owner of Hillhead farm in Aliwal North Pinkie Mbekwa who received 290 cattle said she was “thankful to the government for what it has done for an independent woman like me. I want all women to see a leaving example from me – go and ask for help and the extension officials will assist you.”
A total of 24 farms were identified in the Eastern Cape to benefit from the Plan and they will be in different commodities including fields crops, vegetables and livestock production.