The Northern Cape MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Mr Norman Shushu will be launching three projects in the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality on the 06 & 07 March 2014 respectively.
The marathon launch projects by MEC Shushu will commence with the distribution of vegetable starter packs and the establishment of vegetable gardens at various households at Novalspont while in the afternoon it will be in Nouport.
With the kind of support that the department is giving to farmers, it will enable them to farm optimally and sustainably, which will translate into the improvement of the livelihoods of the farmers.
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has been engaged with the rolling-out of infrastructural development, the purchasing of implements and machinery, production inputs, and farmer support for smallholder farmers in the province.
Members of the Media are invited to the launches, and details are as follows:
Date: 06 March 2014
Time: 10HOO
Venue: Novalspont Sportsground (Novalspont)
Date: 06 March 2014
Time: 14HOO
Venue: Nouport Sportsground (Nouport)
Date: 07 March 2014
Time: 10HOO
Venue: Sunrise Civic Hall
Enquiries: Phemelo Manankong – External Communications Officer
Tel: 053 832 5622
Cell: 071 889 5112
Email: pmanankong@ncpg.gov.za
Editors’ notes – Projects Background
Sikhulule Poultry
The project was established in 1999 and consisted of 22 beneficiaries at that time. Due to mismanagent and conflicts by members the project seized to operate in May 2002. The project was revived in 2004 after the visit by President Jacob Zuma when he was still a deputy president the project was assisted with renovations of poultry houses and production inputs in the form of 500 chickens and feeds. It constitutes of five poultry houses, 4 housing 500 chickens and one with carrying capacity of 1000. The abattoir was upgraded for slaughtering 1000 chickens per day. It also created 20 temporary jobs during the construction of the abattoir and there are 10 beneficiaries that are working on the project.
Novalspont Food Security
The Novalspont Food Security project is based in Novalspont in the Umsombovu Municipality.
Emthanjeni Hydroponics
The Emthanjeni Hydroponics Project is situated on a commonage land. It is about eight kilometres outside De Aar, on route to Philipstown in the Emthanjeni Municipality. The project consists of a 50m X 25m tunnel which produces tomatoes (cherry, plum and cocktail) and a high-tech pack house. During the 2012-13 budget the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development spent about R13 012 194.51 for the construction of the 50x20m hydropics tunnel, the installation of a solar screen, a back-up generator, a packaging facility, a cooler truck, office space, mentorship programmes, labour and production inputs.