Empowering Farmers in OR Tambo District: Tractors, Support, and a Brighter Future

The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development (DRDAR) has launched a new initiative to provide 21 tractors to farmers in OR Tambo District. The aim is to transform the district’s farming industry from a hobby to a thriving business. MEC Nonkqubela Pieters announced the plan during a recent Imbizo held at AmaMpondomise Kingdom’s Upper Kroza Great Place in Qumbu, Mhlontlo Municipality.

Tractor Distribution Plan

The DRDAR will distribute six brand new and 15 refurbished tractors, each with equipment that includes a three-row planter, heavy-duty disc, Nguni bull, 10 wheelbarrows, and seedlings. MEC Pieters donated a fully equipped tractor as part of her commitment to support farming communities.

Extensive Support for Farming Communities

The DRDAR has invested heavily in various programs throughout the province. In the 2021/22 financial year, the organization spent R6 million on sheep and R8 million on cattle under its Livestock Improvement Scheme. This support extended to the district’s farming community, where 305 sheep and 55 cattle were given at a cost of R3 million and R1.3 million, respectively. Mhlontlo farmers received 121 sheep and 36 cattle, worth R1.3 million, to enhance wool and meat quality.

The DRDAR has also constructed 10 shearing sheds between 2018 and 2022, costing R10.9 million. Nine stock dams were repaired and desilted for R5.5 million, seven diptanks were renovated for R900,000, four boreholes were built for R1.6 million, and a feedlot at Mthozela location was constructed and supported with feed for R2.2 million to advance livestock development in the municipality.

Crop production received ample support from the DRDAR, with more than R20 million allocated to cover 4,578 hectares of land from 2018 to 2021. The organization also aided crop-producing farmers by fencing off 94 kilometers of grain fields, costing R4.1 million across 13 villages.

The household food security program assisted 3,600 households with vegetable production inputs, including seedlings, fertilizer, and chemicals, at a cost of R7.2 million over the past four years.

Challenges Addressed

During the Imbizo, residents from Qumbu and Tsolo raised issues related to farming, including limited access to markets, the need for agriculture to be compulsory in schools, and the lack of storage facilities for grain. In response, MEC Pieters instructed departmental officials to help farmers access markets, particularly those in grain production.

MEC Pieters also addressed the issue of livestock theft and promoted livestock branding as a solution. The tracking of animals, currently being piloted at the Dohne Agricultural Development Institute, will improve animal security in the province.

Services Offered

The DRDAR is now offering services on wheels to the rural community, including rabies vaccinations, African horse sickness vaccinations, and ante and post-mortem services. This move demonstrates the government’s commitment to empowering farmers and fostering a sustainable, prosperous future for the region.