Durban — During a recent visit to northern KwaZulu-Natal, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) officials were tasked with finding solutions to challenges faced by small-scale commercial farmers.
Farmers shared their plight with KZN DARD MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa during a two-day visit to Hluhluwe and Jozini, where the councillors and farmers, respectively, assisted the department in taking stock of the challenges of the farming community and finding ways and means to address their concerns.
Councillors and farming communities of Hluhluwe and Jozini lamented the lack of and non-functional dip tanks, access to the market, lack of dams and water infrastructure, dipping material and the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in previous years as impediments that continue to hold back their growth in the sector.
Having brought in experts, from veterinary services to marketing gurus, kaMadlopha-Mthethwa called upon all department staff, senior management and extension officers to ensure all hands were on deck to change the situation of agriculture in the province.
KaMadlopha-Mthethwa committed her department to strengthening the monitoring of its services that assist affected communities with planting and farming services.
“The Human Sciences Research Council report which revealed that uMkhanyakude and Zululand districts have low participation of households involved in agricultural activities has guided us to keep on holding such engagement to sift the views of the locals with an aim of understanding their concerns.
“We have to change the way we have been conducting ourselves to ensure that there’s great service delivery being felt by the people on the ground. Listening to their concerns regarding the lack of water, dipping material and lack of access to market, we came to grips with their concerns and this will help us reprioritise our services toward farmer development,” kaMadlopha-Mthethwa explained.
The MEC, during the engagement, also outlined the department’s strategic objectives, highlighting programmes focused on:
- sustainable farming practices
- livestock development
- irrigation infrastructure development
- support for small-scale farmers
- youth and women empowerment in agriculture.
The meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to share their insights, concerns, and suggestions on how to improve agricultural development in the region.
KaMadlopha-Mthethwa also emphasised the importance of collective effort and co-operation in achieving the sector’s goals.
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