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    Eastern Cape Farmers Urged to Go Commercial as Agricultural Shows Return MEC Kontsiwe encourages smallholder farmers to seize market opportunities through revived exhibitions Bhisho – Eastern Cape MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nonceba Kontsiwe, has urged emerging farmers across the province to step up and transition into full commercial farming, saying the time has come to seize the wealth of opportunities made available through government and private sector support. Kontsiwe delivered this message at the Bhisho Showgrounds on Wednesday, 18 June 2025, during the Department’s revitalised Agricultural Show, which brought together farmers, state agencies, and agribusiness players under one roof. “My heart is filled with joy because I saw the quality of the produce displayed here,” said Kontsiwe. “This shows that our people are determined to fight poverty. We want you to become businesspeople and graduate into commercial farmers.” The event marked the relaunch of agricultural shows across the province, a platform designed to promote farming excellence, improve market access, and introduce farmers to modern farming innovations. Kontsiwe confirmed that starting this year, four agricultural shows will be hosted annually—one per quarter—in key districts across the Eastern Cape. “These shows are more than exhibitions,” Kontsiwe said. “They are economic platforms where smallholder farmers can engage with buyers, explore financing tools, and learn from one another.” Farmers like Nomali Ncumani from Toise, near Stutterheim, welcomed the initiative. “The unity I saw among farmers today was inspiring. I’ve learned new ways to improve production and grow my market,” she said. Key stakeholders such as the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA), Amathole District Municipality, Buffalo City Metro, SEDA, ECDC, and local agri-businesses like Luziko Fresh Produce and Foody Basket were in attendance. Luziko founder Nkosikho Nkantso encouraged farmers to produce high-quality goods to meet formal market demands. “Bring your produce to us—but make sure it’s good quality so it can sell,” he said. ECRDA CEO Simphiwe Somdyala pledged continued support, saying the agency will assist smallholder farmers in supplying fresh produce to government departments such as education, health, and correctional services. “Government will buy farmers’ produce and help them access institutional markets,” Somdyala affirmed. The Department has positioned these shows as a cornerstone for inclusive economic growth in rural Eastern Cape, aiming to shift subsistence producers toward self-sustaining agri-businesses with meaningful impact.

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