Umzimvubu Local Municipality is recognizing the importance of small farming businesses and offering a helping hand. In a commitment to ensure equal access to services for all communities, Umzimvubu Mayor, Cllr Zukiswa Ndevu, along with her Executive Committee members, recently visited EmaXesibeni in Nzongiseni Village, Ward 5.
During the visit, the MEC of Agriculture had previously inspected the Nzokuhle project and handed over a tractor equipped with a disc and water reservoir. The mayor, Cllr Zukiswa Ndevu, expressed,
The department is eager to provide training to farmers to help them learn the best ways to plant and cultivate vegetables so that they can yield a bountiful harvest.
One of the local champions in this effort is Mrs. Nofuya Mas’khosana from Ward 5 in Nzongiseni KwaBhaca. She is the founder of the Nzokuhle project cooperative, which now consists of five members, including one male, two youth, and two women. Mrs. Mas’khosana mentioned that their project supplies spinach to Boxer and cabbage to Spar. They also hire a few people to assist with planting, watering, and harvesting.
Despite the presence of thieves, Mrs. Mas’khosana remains undeterred. She believes that theft occurs mainly because people are hungry, not because they intend to sell the stolen produce.
The mayor’s visit to the project was part of her mayoral program to assess the Nzokuhle project’s needs and resources.
The Nzokuhle project received funding from the Alfred Nzo District Municipality through AgriPark. This three-year contract provided seedlings and support over the duration of three years.
Additionally, Nofuya is involved in the One Farm project, which aims to help ten farmers in Umzimvubu grow cabbage, beetroot, potatoes, and carrots. This initiative seeks to strengthen the local farming community.
Umzimvubu Local Municipality is committed to supporting and developing small farming businesses in the region, ensuring a more prosperous future for all involved.
