The Northern Cape MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Mr. Norman Shushu said agriculture has the potential to grow and boost the local economy of any area.
MEC Shushu was speaking during the handing over of a Sheep Shearing Shed to the Swart Opkomende Landbou Forum (SOLF) in Loxton at the Ubuntu Local Municipality on the 20th March 2014.
The handing over is part of the support that the department is giving to farmers, and it will enable them to farm optimally and sustainably, which will translate into the improvement of the livelihoods of the farmers.
MEC Shushu highlighted that by working together smallholder farmers can graduate to become commercial farmers and create job opportunities for the community.
He stressed that the ANC led government will continue to support them, but encouraged them to roll up their sleeves for the success of the project.
The SOLF project is a wool shearing shed and was constructed to help in improving the quality of wool for the smallholder farmers at the municipality shears. It serves about 31 smallholder farmers who farm with Merino sheep. The wool that is sheared is classed accordingly and then transported to the Eastern Cape markets where it fetches a better price for the product.
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.
The improvement of livelihoods has a multiplier effect in that it addresses government’s programme, which includes the contribution of the smallholder farmer and historically disadvantaged farmers to the agricultural GDP which is significant. The handing over ceremony was attended by about 400 people from Loxton and neighboring towns like Carnarvon and Victoria West.
Enquiries: Phemelo Manankong – External Communications Officer
Tel: 053 802 5622
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Email: pmanankong@ncpg.gov.za