INTENSIVE ACTION NEEDED TO FIGHT HUNGER AND POVERTY – MEC DESBO MOHONO

MEDIA STATEMENT
Att: All Editors
All Journalists
Date:Fri day, 28 October 2022

DEVONDALE – The MEC for North-West Department Agriculture and Rural Development (NWDARD) has called on all the government role-players to work together to ensure that families do not go to bed hungry and there is food security. Mohono was delivering the keynote address during the commemoration of the Provincial World Food Day (WFD) at Devondale village near Vryburg on 27 October 2022. The Devondale celebration marked the 11th year since the NWDARD heeded the call of the Food and Organisation (FAO)’s 1979 declaration of October 16 as World Food Day. The Department embraces WFD as an initiative to discuss issues pertaining to poverty, hunger and food security and to advance solutions thereof.
As a key deliverable of the Department, Mohono said the fight and a win against hunger needed a coordinated effort. She appreciated that many stakeholders came together for the 2022 commemoration. She felt that efforts towards food security need to be intensified as it is everyone’s business.
Together with the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Naledi Local Municipality and the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, NWDARD delivered and array of food security projects with an aim of fighting hunger in the 500 households’ poverty-stricken Devondale area. Amongst others, food gardens were planted for schools, community organisations and individual households. The department handed over production inputs including indigenous chickens, seedlings and fertilizers as well as 10 goats for 10 subsistence farmers. In addition, the Department donated 30 farmers across the province with one bull each to improve their livestock.
With a theme: “ Leave No One behind”, MEC Mohono said it was imperative that people get food irrespective of their location. She said the economic environment was getting tougher and agriculture which depend on land must be brought to life in order to benefit locals. She encouraged the community members to use their yards to start gardens and sell their produce. “As I was going through the area and planting, I realised that many of the families have started gardens and it give me much pleasure because agriculture is one of the most resistant sectors and we cannot never go wrong when we do that,” MEC Mohono said. She acknowledged the skills of the residents of Devondale in farming as many of them are either coming from that background and some still there. She urged them to use their skills to their advantage and assist government to fight hunger. MEC Mohono urged the beneficiaries to desists from selling inputs as soon as they receive it but to be patient as they will see their projects growth in a long run. “The Department is giving you a start-up but we would like to see you growing your businesses,” she pleaded.
According to FAO, food security exists when all people at all times have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their needs and food preference for an active health life. The commemoration of World Food Day therefore gives platform for participation of rural communities and to encourage a diversified agricultural production to improve food nutrition and safety nets.
Amongst the recipients, 48-year-old Rebecca Moilakgotla said the government’s donation of 10 goats seems like an endorsement of her farming path. The mother of 2 children said she currently has a herd of about 23 goats. Although it was not easy to feed, she has made sure that she personally shepherd it so that it can grow. “I am glad that the Department sees my good effort and now my herd has been increased. I have always wished that I could see and instant increase and with this donation, this is a dream come true,” said the elated Moilakgotla. As soon as she sees a steady growth, Moilakgotla plans to formally generate and income by selling her produce at auctions.
The 2022 WFD was attended by amongst others the NWDARD Head of Department, Mr Thupi Mokhatla and senior management members, representatives from Dr RSM District and Naledi Local Municipalities, sister departments including the North-West Department of Social Development, North-West Department of Economic Development, Conservation and Tourism and the Office of the Premier.
Photo Captions

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Issued by the Communication Services Directorate
Issued by the Communication Services Directorate
Enquiries: Ms Emelda Setlhako
Enquiries: Ms Emelda Setlhako
Tel: 018 389 5684
Tel: 018 389 5684
Cell: 060
Cell: 060 745 4020745 4020
Email:
Email: ESetlhako@nwpg.gov.zaESetlhako@nwpg.gov.za
Website:www.nwpg.gov.za/Agriculture/
Website:www.nwpg.gov.za/Agriculture/
Facebook:www.facebook.com/nwdard
Facebook:www.facebook.com/nwdard

NWDARD TO JOINTLY COMMEMORATE WORLD FOOD DAY WITH DR RUTH SEGOMOTSI MOMPATI DISTRICT

Date: Tuesday , 2 5 October 2022
Mahikeng
In an effort to advance the efforts of the District Development Model, the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in conjunction with the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati will commemorate the Provincial World Food Day on Thursday, 27 October 2 022 at Devondale village.
This year’s commemoration is aligned with the United Nations 39 th year celebration. In the main, World Food Day seeks to create awareness of food security, food poverty and hunger with people at the grassroots level using a big ger platform. Under the theme Leave NO ONE behind , Better production, better nutrition. A better environment and a better life for all the 2022 commemoration is meant to en sure that all protocols and standards that measure the acceptability of consumable food items are followed. Food security ensures mitigating the risks of illnesses that are contracted through unsafe foods. The commemoration of World Food Day provides participating countries as well as stakeholders a platform to discuss i ssues pertaining to poverty, hunger and food security.

Amongst an array of activities for the day, the NWDARD as well as Dr RSM municipalitywill hand over food security empowerment packages to community based organizations as well as individual households and those includ e indigenous chickens and seedlings for households gardens. Identified s mallholder farmers will be supported with 10 goats each to support their subsistence farm ing efforts while 30 farm ers are set to receive bulls to improve production and the quality of their livestock. MEC Desbo Mohono is set to address this occasion and to further assert the provincial food security plan and the food and nutrition strategy as a vehicle to ensure impr ovement and dealing with the challenges of hu nger, poverty, and inequality. Members of the media are invite d to the event which will be held as follows:
 Venue: Devondale Village (Stadium)
 Date: Thursday, 27 October 2022
 Time: 09h00
Transport is available for community Media on request. Please RSVP Kgalalelo Mashomo on kmashomo@nwpg.gov.za/018 389 5613 by 26 October 2022 at 10h00.
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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/nwdard

SCAM ALERT TO ALL PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS

 

Media Houses
Date: Friday, 07 October 2022

Mahikeng – Following advertisement of Office Security Services bids recently, it has come to the attention of the North-West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (NWDARD) that some bidders have been contacted by fraudsters alleging that their submitted quotations are successful. These fraudsters are also using names of officials of the Department, Mr Jacob Kgoele and Mr Mapogo Maboya to solicit monies up to the tune of R100 000.00 from these service providers in exchange of appointment letters.
The scam involves the fraudsters using departmental letterheads, disguised as department’s representative to send out fake appointment letters to unsuspecting suppliers and service providers.
All prospective service providers that have received fraudulent letters or have been approached for monies are urged to report those matters to law enforcement agencies without hesitation and to inform the department of such activities.
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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/dard
Facebook:www.facebook.com/dard
Twitter: @nwpg_dard

FIRST CANNABIS LEKGOTLA TO BE HELD IN THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE

MEDIA ADVISORY
Att : ALL EDITORS
Media Houses
Date: Friday, 09 September 2022

The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the North West University will host the first North West Province Cannabis Lekgotla which will provide engagements on the economic purpose, industrialization and development of cannabis in North West Province.
The theme for the Lekgotla: “Breaking the barriers, towards the Cannabis Agenda in the North West Province” was stirred by cabinet’s decision in July 2019 to commercialize cannabis in order to increase economic growth, create jobs and alleviate poverty. The unveiled master plan is aimed at harnessing a R28 billion cannabis industry that could potentially create 25,000 jobs and help attract foreign investment.
The Lekgotla which will be held through a hybrid model is meant to mobilize and engage relevant stakeholders and custodians in the Cannabis Industry to explore inclusive and representative entrepreneurial opportunities for the North West community with regards to rolling out of the National Cannabis Master Plan for economic development.
Industry experts, Cannabis interest groups, government departments and institutions of higher learning are expected to form part of this game changing conversation in the province.

Details of the event:
Venue: North West University (Mahikeng Campus)
Date: Wednesday, 14 September – Friday, 16 September 2022
Time: 10h00
Please RSVP to Ms Tshegofatso Leepile at: tleepile@nwpg.gov.za/ 018 389 5459 on or
before Monday, 12 September 2022 before 13h00.

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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/nwdard

KGORA FARMER TRAINING CENTRE ACQUIRES LARGER HATCHERY EQUIPMENT TO BOOST BROILER OUTPUT

MEDIA STATEMENT
Att: ALL EDITORS
All Journalists
Media Houses
Date: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Mahikeng-The acquisition of a large hatching machine by the Kgora Farmers Training Centre in Mahikeng is expected to intensely increase the poultry production capacity at this institution to twelve thousand (12000) chicks a month. The machine is both a hatcher and setter combined. It can also hatch ducks, geese, quail and pigeons. This is an upgrade as the hatchery that the centre was using before could only produce up to two thousand (2000) chicks per week and could not meet the high demand of chickens meant for food security projects. The purchasing of this equipment by the Department is also in response to the request by Minister Thoko Didiza during her visit to the Centre in February this year. In her meeting with MEC Desbo Mohono, the Minister highlighted a need for the centre to also hatch broilers stating that there is a shortage of day old broilers in the country. Kgora introduced for the first time basic hatchery management training to its list of skills development courses last year. The aim of the course was to train aspiring poultry as well as experienced farmers to improve their results. Farmers who would enroll for this training will learn the practical aspects of hatchery management which includes the biology of fertile egg production and handling, setter and hatcher environment, processing day-old chicks and hatchery biosecurity. In response to these developments, MEC Desbo Mohono said this was indeed an improvement and a step in the right direction. “We welcome this development and this means we will now be able to produce more broilers. This also means we will now increase the number of beneficiaries because the chickens that we produce here are donated to farmers in the province for rearing and others are donated to different applicable projects as part of departmental food security programmes,” MEC Mohono pointed out. Kgora is a state-owned agricultural skills training centre based in Mahikeng and tasked with a responsibility to improve farming skills of all levels. It is accredited by the Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA), as an education and training provider in the agriculture sector on animal and plant production. On successful completion of courses, students are offered national certificates NQF 1 – 4 that are recognized by the South African qualifications Authority in terms of the SAQA Act of 1995. Training at this centre ranges from excursion, demonstrations, and refreshers up to credit bearing unit standards to address knowledge and skills gaps on arable farming, livestock husbandry, agribusiness, and aquaculture as well as on organizational, marketing and financial management. The Centre can only accept up to a certain number of participants at a time, therefore it is operated on a first come first serve basis. Members of the public are urged to enquire with the local agricultural offices on skills development courses offered at Kgora Farmers Training Centre. PICTURE CAPTIONS: – PHOTO 5H3A4667… The large hatching machine at Kgora Farmers Training Centre in Mahikeng. The machine is both a hatcher and setter combined. With this machine, the centre is expected to intensely increase the poultry production capacity to twelve thousand (12000) chicks a month.

-Ends-
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/nwdard

North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development scores first unqualified audit opinion in 5 years

MEDIA STATEMENT
Att: ALL EDITORS
Media Houses
Date: Thursday, 18 August 2022

Mahikeng – For the first time in five consecutive years of receiving a qualified audit report, the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has finally scored an unqualified audit report from Auditor General South Africa, (AGSA) for the financial year ending 31 March 2022. An unqualified audit opinion is essentially a clean report. This outcome indicates that the auditor general is satisfied with the organization’s financial reporting. This is a set target for every public institution. At the core of this target, is a quest to give taxpayers confidence in the management of the public purse.

In response to this audit outcome, MEC Desbo Mohono of Agriculture and Rural Development in the North West said this is a significant improvement compared to the financial reports that the Department has been receiving over the past financial years.
“The department pride itself on its achievement to obtain the unqualified report for the first time since the financial year 2015/16,” MEC Mohono said. She went on to say the report serves as an indication that the department is well on track towards achieving its goal of establishing credible financial control systems. “This improvement could be attributed to improved oversight and stringent internal review processes initiated by the Head of Department Thupi Mokhatla and the appointed Chief Financial Officer, Mr Dedricks Mompei resulting in improved record keeping,” Mohono highlighted.

She also credited this positive outcome to the staff in general that worked tirelessly with a winning formula. “Our secret was to identify loopholes and work on them,” MEC Mohono concluded.
The office of the AGSA has also commended the management of the Department for implementing the audit action plans.

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Issued by the Communication Services Directorate
Inquiries: 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/nwdard

JOUBERTON COMMUNITIES TO BENEFIT FOOD GARDENS FOR MANDELA MONTH FR OM DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

MEDIA ADVISORY
Att
: ALL EDITORS
Media Houses
Date: Thurs
day, 28 July 2022

Klerksdorp
In efforts to fight hunger & empower communities to generate their own food, a bout 120 households, two schools and a Day Care C entre will benefit as part of the North West Department of Agr iculture and Rural Development s initiative for Mandela Month on Friday, 28 July 2022 in Jouberton Township in Klerksdorp , Dr Kenneth Under the theme, Do what you can, with what you have, where you are, MEC Desbo Mohono will lead this tribute at which 100 households will receive vegetable packs while the 20 will be handed over piggery feeds. The Primary schools i.e. Are Itshokeng and Kaka tlela s gardens will be extended and more vegetables will be plante d while W AMIMS Day Care C entre garden will also be extended and handed over with more garden inputs. The Jouberton celebration is in line with the annual commemoration to mark Nelson Mandela International day and is , furthermore set to highlight the plig ht of f ood security and climate change, which invites every individual to act positively and make a difference in communities.

 

Members of the media are invite d to the event which will be held as follows:
 Venue: WAMIMS Day Care Centre (Ward 7, Jouberton)
 Date: Friday, 29 July 2022
 Time: 10h00

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Issued by the Communication Services Directorate
Enquiries
& RSVP : Ms Tsholofelo Dintwe
Cell:
083 5767 655

Postponement of Mandela Day Event

MEDIA STATEMENT
Att: ALL EDITORS
Media Houses
Date: Sunday, 17 July 2022

Klerksdorp
The Mandela Day Event scheduled for Monday, 18th July 2022 in Jouberton near Klerksdorp has been postponed until further notice. The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will communicate the new dates in due time.
The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development regrets the inconvenience.

FOUR AGRICULTURE STUDENTS GRADUATE AS MEC’S INTERVENTION INITIATIVE BEARS FRUITS

MEDIA STATEMENT
Att : ALL EDITORS
Media Houses
Date: Monday, 20 June 2022

Taung – Four of the nine students supported through MEC Desbo Mohono’s intervention initiative have graduated at Taung College of Agriculture (TAC). This took place on Friday, 17 June 2022 at the much-jubilated graduation ceremony hosted by the college. The students were part of a team of nine and a class of 2019 intake who were identified from indigent households across the province. They were offered a bursary and a placed to study at TAC. The four have bagged their 3-year Diplomas of Agriculture in Irrigation on record time.
In 2019, after various engagements with young people, the North-West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono observed the interest of agriculture in many young people. The challenge, as raised by many at that time, was that of lack of funding to pursue their studies. It was then that she offered, through her office’s intervention, a bursary for those who were in dire need.
One of the students, from a group of four who graduated, is Nomalanga Sibinda from Pudumong village just outside Taung. Since finishing her matric, Sibinda said she struggled for some time as she did not have funds to pursue her studies. Although she had agriculture as one of her matric subjects, she did not consider it that much as her line of career. It was one of her former teachers who tipped her of MEC Mohono’s initiative and she grabbed the opportunity. “Whilst I was home, a teacher told me that MEC Mohono was talking in one her engagements about the desire to assist interested students to further their studies. I applied and I was fortunate to be accepted. I have a single parent who struggle to support me because of minimal job opportunities available and I was excited to get this opportunity, and this was also a relief to her,” Sibinda further explained.
Sibinda said her love for agriculture grew over time and she does not see herself anywhere besides in that field. She alluded that she is following (through digital media) a lot of young people who are in the field and are doing well. She is comfortable about the fact that many of these young people are modernising the sector thus creating a lot of interest for their peers especially females.
She asserted that agriculture was her home, and she was planning to make her mark within the sector with the acquired knowledge. The other four students who benefited and were graduating are Lesalagae Moranang from Lekubung in Zeerust, Zandi Dladla who also hails from Pudumong and Olebogeng Motshegare from Rustenburg.
MEC Mohono said she was proud to have made education accessible for these four kids. “These young people have managed to grab the opportunity and have completed their Diploma on record time. It is said that when you make education inaccessible, you make prosperity only possible for the already prosperous,” MEC Mohono said.
She further congratulated all the graduands and declared her pleasure at seeing young people acquiring knowledge irrespective of their challenges. “This is a special day for our children who have toiled the soil for about three tough years. These graduates are proceeding under tumultuous and boisterous times of COVID 19. They are rare breeds and we are proud of them, and this shows that our Taung and Potchefstroom Colleges produce not only students, but characters that can man-up and stand facing the entire world with its wrath,” MEC emphasised.
The Taung College of Agriculture hosted the 2022 ceremony and bid farewell to a total of 24 graduands with a total representation of 38% of whom were females and 62% males. All of them acquired a 3-year diploma of Agriculture in Irrigation.

Ends!

Issued by: Communication Services Directorate
Enquiries: Ms Emelda Setlhako
Tel: 018 389 5684 / Cell: 0 60 745 4020
Email: ESetlhako @nwpg.gov.za

FIRST BATCH OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS SUCCESFULLY COMPLETES HANDS-ON TRAINING ON POTATO PRODUCTION

MEDIA STATEMENT
Att: ALL EDITORS
Media Houses
Date: Tuesday, 21 June 2022

Mahikeng- In a quest to empower subsistence and smallholder farmers in the Province, the North-West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (NWDARD) has recently trained a group of farmers on potato production. The initiative is part of the NWDARD’s Food Security Strategic Plan (FSSP) of enhancing production through alignment with technologies and enhancing enterprise development for smallholder farmers. The training was provided by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the department availed resources such as potato seeds, fertilizers and chemicals.
Potato production is one of the most expensive enterprises within the agricultural sector of South Africa with less than 1% of total production done by black farmers.
Speaking during the provincial potato harvest day function held in Ramatlabama last Wednesday 15 June 2022, MEC Mohono commended all the nine farmers for completing their training.
She further went on to say that the Department embarked on this initiative with the ARC with the aim of skilling the potential entrants to the potato industry. “It is researched that less than 1% of total production is done by black farmers due to high costs within the potato industry. So the Department took these nine farmers to help them unlock the potato industry and shake the status-qou a bit. As a department we are neither compromising nor taking chances when coming to food security measures throughout the entire province. “The high inputs costs should not deter our farmers to forge ahead because once in, rewards are much greater at the ultimate,” MEC Mohono expressed.
The training for these nine farmers consisted of theoretical and practical aspects.
The potato industry’s impact is not only of interest to the agricultural compass but overlaps to contribute towards the sustenance of life itself. It pushes towards contributing to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to “eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.”

Mosidi Morule of Ramatlabama is one of the beneficiaries of this programme. On behalf of all nine trained farmers, she thanked the Department and their mentors Dr Lerato Matsaunyane and Flip Steyn from the ARC. “We are grateful and appreciate what the department and the ARC has done for us. It was not an easy one but here we are today. We managed!” she expressed.
She went further to say they will use the knowledge they acquired from this training to mentor others.
From ARC, Dr Lerato Matsaunyane thanked the Department for coming up with such a good initiative that will not only see farmers being trained but will also contribute in making sure that there is enough food production and job opportunities that will be created if sustained.
The potato subsector has a potential to create sustainable employment opportunities for everyone along the value chain.
This programme aims to serve as a model to increase potato production in the North-West Province.
By empowering these farmers through relevant programmes, they could adopt a commercial mind-set which can unlock a powerhouse of rural development and food security in the province.
Plans are in place to support those that have just been trained and to train more in the future.

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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/nwdard