Home News R3,2 million lucern planting project launched

R3,2 million lucern planting project launched

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A R3,2 million lucern planting project was launched in Warmsand near Upington that is set to create more than 200 jobs.

The MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, Mase Manopole launched a R3, 2 million lucern planting project in Warmsand. Picture supplied

A R3,2 million lucern planting project was launched in Warmsand near Upington that is set to create more than 200 jobs.

The MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, Mase Manopole launched the project on April 21, where she indicated that it was a partnership between the department and the National African Farmers Union (Nafu).

She said the project would be expanded to other districts to assist farmers to feed their livestock during times of natural disaster.

“Several parts of the Northern Cape have constantly been hit by immense drought, brown locust infestation and devastating veldfires.

“The planting of lucern and maize, will assist us in alleviating the effects brought by drought, brown locusts plague and veldfires among other overwhelming disasters which are confronting our sector in the Province. We will be able to store more fodder in our fodder banks for our farmers’ livestock, so that when disaster strikes we are able to assist,” Manopole added.

She stated that they wanted to store more lucern and maize at their fodder banks to increase their reserves.

“Provincial government has put aside about R3,2 million towards this initiative, which will see Nafu planting lucern and maize in various districts such as ZF Mgcawu, Pixley ka Seme and Frances Baard.

“We are grateful of the partnership because it will see more than 200 job opportunities created,” Manopole said.

Manopole added that the department was working hard to ensure that the Fetsa Tlala programme increased production levels of subsistence and smallholder producers, to enable them to access opportunities into the value chain through planting of grains mainly maize and wheat.

“The intervention further intends to increase prospects of job creation and contribute to the creation of SMME development at a local level. We have put money aside to be used into the production of food on communal, private and land reform farms, to address food security challenges in the Province.”

She indicated that the ZF Mgcawu and Frances Baard districts contributed close to 600 hectares with a total of 14 irrigation farms participating in winter and summer cropping, mainly maize and wheat production as a staple food in the province.

“The One Household, One Food Garden programme, will continue encouraging our communities to produce their own food through establishment of vegetable gardens.”

The MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, Mase Manopole and NAFU national President Motsepe Matlala. Picture supplied
Community members attending the launch on April 21. Picture supplied
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