The Eastern Cape provincial government has announced a strategic initiative to leverage agricultural activities as a means to address poverty in the region, as highlighted by a recent Human Rights Commission (HRC) report. This initiative was detailed by the MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR), Nonceba Kontsiwe, during the handover of a tractor and its implements to the Gobothi Residents’ Association.
Expressing gratitude, the association acknowledged the government’s support, aimed at revitalizing fallow and arable land in their village. During the event, Kontsiwe urged communities to focus on producing their own food for both consumption and sale, emphasizing the government’s mission to ensure that all arable land in communities, schools, and church lands is cultivated.
“We are here to hand over a tractor to Gobothi Residents Association and we want to encourage them because they are doing great work in planting so many hectares. We are heeding the call from the Human Rights Commission report, which states that some parts of the Eastern Cape are living below the poverty line,” Kontsiwe said.
She added, “We want to fight poverty and eradicate it totally. Our intentions are for each household to have a backyard garden or food home-based gardens. We want to strengthen that and encourage those who have not initiated agriculture programs to do the same.”
The MEC committed to intensifying support programs for vulnerable households. From 2009 to 2024, DRDAR invested R60 million to support 30,000 vulnerable households in Anti-Poverty sites across the province. During the same period, DRDAR provided vegetable seeds, seedlings, maize, poultry feed, poultry medication, chicks, and fertilizers to 205,038 households for food production to eradicate poverty.
The handover event also marked the launch of a green revolution led by the association, which aims to see every household’s garden planted. Association director Rev. Gcobani Vika thanked the government for assisting them in realizing their long-term vision of food security and economic development.
“We are launching what we term the Green Revolution. The Eastern Cape government has given us a tractor so that we can continue our work of planting fields and vegetable gardens in every household. We are elated and it has always been our dream to have our own tractor,” Vika said.
Siyabulela Zangqa, the Executive Mayor of AB Xuma Municipality, praised the project as a catalyst for addressing the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality that engulf rural communities. He committed to supporting the expansion of the initiative.
“If we want to fight poverty, unemployment, and inequality, we need to intensify our efforts in agriculture and ensure everyone gets an opportunity to work in the fields. We want to ensure that we support this initiative of people who have already started to work on their own. Government is here to lend a hand and we commit to assist them,” Zangqa said.
He noted that the Chris Hani District Municipality has identified 800 hectares of land to be cultivated, with engagements underway to ensure this land is ploughed.
MEC Kontsiwe highlighted the potential of the project to become a significant enterprise with economic benefits. “Our goal is for everyone to get involved in agriculture to combat poverty and support communities. We believe this will transform lives,” she said.
Kontsiwe also mentioned that project members would have various opportunities, including joining the Department of Education’s nutrition program, supplying local supermarkets, or even starting their own markets.
