By Thozi kaManyisana
The government is committed to giving people ‘huge enablers for their businesses to prosper,’ these were the words of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Nonkqubela Pieters during the handover of infrastructure to farmers.
Speaking during the handover of animal handling equipment that included spray dipping system as well as fencing covering 10ha of land at the Oakhill farm in Kinkelbos, Sundays River, the MEC stressed that the equipment was aimed at commercialization of emerging farmers.
‘’This is government’s investment to change the lives of the people for the better and become commercial farmers
This investment is also meant to enable farmers to become role players in the economic activities of the country instead of becoming spectators,’’ she said.
Craig Rensburg, who co-owns the land reform 470ha farm with other four family members, praised the department for their support that saw at least 10 people employed through the building of the infrastructure, fencing and eradication of alien plants on the farm.
‘‘We want to thank the department for their assistance that helped us tremendously. The re-establishment of the grass after our camps were fenced is helping us to send our livestock to the markets in better conditions,’’ he said.
The farm is also expected to receive 11 Boran cattle that include 10 heifers and a bull through DRDAR’s livestock improvement programme that seeks to improve the herd by providing high breed livestock.
Mzingaye Scout whose farm Enkeldedoek already benefited from livestock improvement, fencing, animal handling facility and eradication of alien plants said the sales on the farm ‘‘improved after the intervention by government .’’
‘‘We want to praise government and assure you that we will jealously guard the investment made so that we cannot only prosper in our business but become job creators,’’ Scout said.
The MEC, who had a brief engagement with the leaders of the small Kinkelbos farm, said; ‘‘people need to actively participate in their own development through creation of homestead gardens and by October I will be here to deliver gardening tools and seedling to this community.’’
