KLERKSDORP – Twenty young farmers in the North West are set to receive funding as part of the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development with the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s call for entrepreneurs to apply for funding of their projects for the year 2020/21. Five young people will be sourced from each of the four districts of the North West province, making this twenty. MEC Desbo Mohono of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, made the courageous announcement at the end of the two-day Youth Dialogue on Agriculture held at Klerksdorp recently. The Dialogue was meant to bring together youth with interest in agriculture together for information sharing and empowering session.
The Department had earlier this month called on organized Agriculture, Farmers (Small holder and Commercial), Entrepreneurs, Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (Youth, Women and People Living with Disabilities), Institutions (Traditional Leaders, School, Churches and etc.) and Cooperatives in the North West Province to apply for funding for 2020/21 financial year. The funding of projects aims to realize the National Development Plan’s (NDP) vision 2030 of addressing the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment as well as positively contribute to food security, job creation, and economic growth.
MEC Mohono said she would want to see young people empowered in order for the country to realise its economic goals. “We have gone beyond the promising timeline. It is time for action. Young people must work and we need to ensure that we give them resources. I am guaranteeing funding for the 20 Youth and I am going to ensure that they get their businesses to greater heights and realise their dreams,” MEC emphasised.
Over and above the funding for 20 youth, four young people (one from each district) will be trained as auctioneers to assist the province and lay foundation for disadvantaged groups to penetrate and assist to transform the outlook of the auction business in the province. Four co- operatives (one in each district) will also be established and empowered. The ever-important capacity building measures, the crucial resource provisioning, and many other ways including time investment would be exerted to assist the co-operatives. Agri–Logistics hub will be established, one in each district to assist to improve the competitiveness in the agriculture through the development of logistics system to support the sector.
Many young people who attended the Dialogue applauded the pronouncements and committed to work hard and dedicate time to ensure that their lives are changed for better. 28 years old Bertha Morei, from Dr Kenneth Kaunda said young people have waited for a long time for such bold pronouncements. “We thank MEC so much for the help and we will ensure that we don’t disappoint her. She is confident in our capability and we need to play our part in ensuring that the investment she is making to young people does not end in vain,” she said enthusiastically.
MEC Mohono said all the projects will be implemented in 12 months.
Issued by the Communication Services Directorate Enquiries: Ms Emelda Setlhako
Tel: 018 389 5684
Cell: 060 745 4020
Email: ESetlhako@nwpg.gov.za Website:www.nwpg.gov.za/Agriculture/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/nwpread