[ Home ]
[ Speeches & statements ]
Department of Agriculture's Six-Pegs Policy delivers tractors to O R Tambo District Municipality farmers during Imbizo Week
16 April 2008
As part of the Imbizo Week, MEC for Agriculture Mr Gugile Nkwinti has handed out five tractors and full equipment to farmers at Nkantolo Village in OR Tambo District Municipality on Tuesday, 8 April, 2008. MEC Nkwinti together with O R Tambo District Municipality Mayor Zoleka Capa gave keys for tractors to the happy group of farmers from Mthatha, Tsolo, Lusikisiki, Flagstaff and Libode. This served to address the concerns farmers raised at a previous Imbizo as well as to assist municipalities to accelerating service delivery in a business unusual mode.
Farmers who benefited are those who have formed projects in an organised manner through cooperatives or other structures as advised by the Department of Agriculture, so as to create job opportunities and community development in their areas. The farmers who benefited this time were identified by their councillors and communities.
The handing over of these tractors has been aligned with Department of Agriculture's Six-Peg Policy Framework which seeks to fast-tract infrastructure installation such as fencing, tractors, dipping tanks, stock water dams, irrigation schemes and human capacitation.
MEC Nkwinti said this gesture is in direct response to a plea by farmers for government to assist them with equipment to intensify their farming projects especially those that produce maize. "This is part of government's social cohesion programme aiming at poverty eradication in partnership with the local chiefs, farmers, municipalities and provincial departments" said MEC Nkwinti.
The MEC encouraged farmers not to sell their land but rather forge partnerships for skills transfer that will benefit them and their communities at large.
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
16 April 2008
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za)