Potchefstroom – Together standing within the objectives of cooperative governance and intergovernmental relations of the District Development Model (DDM), MEC Desbo Mohono and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Mr Mcebisi Skwatcha handed over three agriculture projects worth R12m in Potchefstroom, JB Marks Local Municipality recently. The assistance in these projects has been continuous over two financial years to enable them to be in full functioning position.
The projects handed over include Watch P Piggery, Vhasane CCB Enterprises and Maselesego Trading Project. The projects were primarily funded through the North-West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP). The key objective of this programme is to ensure that communities achieve an increase in production as well as to fight against the challenges poverty, inequality and unemployment.
The Department supported Watch P project with a 30-sow unit for the piggery, supply and delivery of production inputs. The department further handed over mechanization package to Vhasane CCB Enterprises for horticulture production and Ponds structure to Maselesego Trading Project.
MEC Desbo Mohono in her handing over remarks expressed gratitude and satisfaction with the current performance of the projects. She was satisfied that the projects were going to impact positively to the lives of locals. “I am confident that the beneficiaries will be able to take the projects to greater heights and represent the North-West Province commercially,” emphasized Mohono.
One of the beneficiaries Palesa Watch of Watch P Piggery is already making strides. She is currently breeding with 30 sows and selling at the local abattoir and auctions. Palesa’s journey of piggery, started in the year 2010 and she never looked back. “I am grateful to the Department for the work they’ve done on the farm, the sow units will assist in supply of improved breeding stock for markets,” said Palesa. As part of the future plans, Palesa is planning to sell to the local farmers who are operating grower units.
Mr Gilbert Nesane of Vhasane CCB Enterprises, a vegetable production project, has already secured a market with Matlosana Fresh Produce as well other major retailers selling Swiss chard, Cabbage, Hubbard squash. With about six permanent workers and occasionally employing eight more, Nesane is adamant that his project is making a difference in his and other people’s lives. He was handed a
mechanization package which include a tractor, storage cooler and garden equipment. “The mechanisation package will assist in making the farm work easier and faster and will assist in taking us from small-holder to commercial scale. We appreciate how government responds to the needs of the people, especially farmers. We hope to contribute to driving the economy of the province through agriculture,” exclaimed Nesane.
The third project, Maselelsego Trading, owned by Lucky Masetlhe was handed over the Ponds structure. The Department has also assisted with the project with tunnels, a solar electricity system and a mobile cooler.
The support to the farmers is in line with MEC Desbo Mohono’s Budget Speech 2023/2024 commitment that Producer Support and Development contribution will mostly be through CASP and Ilima Letsema.
Captions
256A7630.JPG – MEC Desbo Mohono hands over certificate to Ms Palesa Watch of Watch P Piggery
256A7757.JPG – MEC Desbo Mohono together with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Land
Reform and Rural Development, Mr Mcebisi Skwatcha handing over mechanization package to
Vhasane CCB Enterprises
256A7832.JPG – MEC Desbo Mohono ribbon cutting at the handover of the Maselesego Trading Project to Mr Lucky Lesego Masetlhe
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