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Ilima/Letsema campaign a call to fight hunger and poverty "Masibuyele Emasimini"
29 August 2008
The Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, Ms Lulu Xingwana will continue with the Ilima/Letsema campaign and her next stop is Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape on 31 August 2008. There the minister shall among others, hand over starter packs to identified households for them to start their own food production gardens. The said starter packs cost R10 000.00 (ten thousand rand) each.
Through the Ilima/Letsema Campaign the minister supports the 'war on poverty campaign' launched by The Presidency in Xhariep in the Free State this month. Through it (Ilima/Letsema campaign) the Ministry for Agriculture and Land Affairs is reviving the spirit of ubuntu and Vuk'uzenzele.
The campaign calls for the seizure of the opportunity by communities and people in general to co-operate to combat hunger and poverty through increasing food production, particularly livestock improvement and agro-processing countrywide.
"Let us roll up our sleeves and work together, in order to ensure food security, create job opportunities and economic development. Ilima/Letsema gives us the opportunity to transform the dead assets (land, livestock) in the hands of the poor into economic assets that can be used to combat hunger and poverty, ensure food security and stimulate the growth of the rural economies," says Minister Xingwana.
Meanwhile, during the Xhariep leg of Ilima/Letsema in the Free State eight families benefited on the day and more are still to benefit from the package offered by the department. The services and intervention provided include starter packs which comprised of vegetable tunnels, plant holders/receptacle, growth medium (compost) and seedlings. The department will also provide training to the beneficiaries.
The minister has called on traditional leaders, religious leaders, community leaders, and people living with disabilities, women and young people not to let any land lie fallow. She has called on people to go back and use land to unleash its productive potential to increase food production, create employment and contribute towards economic growth and the development for our country.
For further information:
Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole
Tel: 012 319 7317
Tel: 083 265 8728 or 083 452 5743
Issued by: Department of Agriculture
29 August 2008