A multi-million-rand planting season programme has been launched by the Kwa Zulu- Natal Finance MEC, Ravi Pillay in the hopes of addressing the challenge of food insecurity. The launch took place in Northern KZN at the Mgungundlovu District. The programme will also serve to boost economic growth.
Pillay said, “The programme has the potential to create 500 job opportunities during and post operations. The programme further provides opportunities for the use of SMMEs (small, medium and micro-enterprises) to provide mechanization services”.
The provincial government will be able to help emerging farmers, through this programme, by supplying items such as fertilizer, seeds, chemicals, and mechanization services.
The R 160 million programme targets over 16 000 hectares of land across all districts in KZN, of which 760 hectares are in the Mgungundlovu District.
Addressing the importance of Agriculture in KZN, Pillay said, “It will no doubt go a long way towards addressing issues of food security in this region and will also contribute to the reduction of unemployment”. He further mentioned the importance of empowering women farmers, “Through this programme, we want not to only create vibrant agricultural communities, but we also want to promote the participation of women in the agricultural sector. It gives me great pleasure to note that of 8041 beneficiaries across the province, about 60% are women”.
By Linda Buthelezi
