Supporting Sustainable Agriculture in Mhlontlo Local Municipality

The Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) MEC Nonkqubela Pieters recently hosted an Agriculture Sector Imbizo in the AmaMpondomise Kingdom of Eastern Cape. The event aimed to empower the local community with the necessary tools and support for sustainable agricultural practices.

Providing Resources

During the Imbizo, a tractor, garden implements, and seedlings were handed over to King Matiwane, fulfilling MEC Pieters’ commitment to provide the resources needed for the community’s agricultural efforts.

Services on Wheels

The Imbizo also offered services on wheels, including animal health education, vaccinations, and castrations. The DRDAR’s Livestock Improvement Scheme supports the OR Tambo Municipality, which has the second-highest population of sheep and the highest cattle numbers. This initiative aims to enhance the commercialization of agriculture in the District Municipality, as outlined in the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP 2022).

Livestock Development

During the 2021/22 financial year, DRDAR invested R6 million for sheep and R8 million for cattle across the province. The District farming community received assistance in the form of 305 sheep and 55 cattle, aimed at improving wool and meat production from communal sheep and cattle. In Mhlontlo, farmers were provided with 121 sheep and 36 cattle, valued at R1.3 million.

To further support wool sheep farming productivity, DRDAR constructed ten shearing sheds (5 in Tsolo and 5 in Qumbu) between 2018 and 2022, costing R10.9 million. Additionally, livestock development in the Municipality has seen the repair and desilting of 9 stock dams (R5,494,373), renovation of 7 diptanks (R900,000), construction of four boreholes (R1,585,048), and the building of a feedlot at Mthozela location (R2,193,624).

Crop Production

Crop production has also been a primary focus in Mhlontlo. From 2018/2019 to 2021/2022, DRDAR invested over R20 million, covering 4,578 hectares of land. In the last four years, crop-producing farmers were further supported by fencing off 94km of grain fields across 13 villages, with R4,093,866 in funding.

Household Food Security

In the realm of household food security, DRDAR has supported 3,600 households in the past four years with vegetable production inputs, including seedlings, fertilizer, and chemicals, at a cost of R7.2 million. Rural enterprises have also received backing, with 11 industrial machines delivered in the last financial year and the completion of an industrial site for packaging bottled juice at ward 6.

The Agriculture Sector Imbizo at AmaMpondomise Kingdom demonstrates the commitment of the DRDAR, MEC Nonkqubela Pieters, and the Eastern Cape government to support local agricultural communities. By providing resources, infrastructure, and educational opportunities, they aim to empower farmers, promote sustainable practices, and foster economic growth in the region.