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The Department of Agriculture is investing over R19 million to revive irrigation schemes and support rural farming in the province.
The Eastern Cape government has launched a province-wide programme to revive irrigation schemes and support local farmers with machinery, infrastructure and funding. The initiative was launched on 27 January 2026 at Zanyokhwe Irrigation Scheme in Keiskammahoek by Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe. It forms part of a multi-year plan to reduce poverty, boost food production, and improve rural livelihoods.
What is happening?
Eastern Cape MEC for Agriculture Nonceba Kontsiwe has launched a provincial irrigation programme targeting the revitalisation of 10,000 hectares of land over the next five years.
The programme, launched at Zanyokhwe Irrigation Scheme in Keiskammahoek on 27 January 2026, includes a direct investment of more than R19.5 million by the Department of Agriculture.
This initiative will cover at least 1,528 hectares immediately and aims to support grain, vegetable and fodder production with new machinery and irrigation systems.
Why it matters to you
The revival of these schemes is aimed at:
- Reducing poverty in rural areas
- Supporting local food production
- Creating jobs in farming communities
- Helping farmers access formal markets
- Improving skills and technical capacity
Kontsiwe said this was part of a broader provincial strategy to “boost the economic muscle of farmers” and support agricultural sustainability.
