More support for smallholder farmers

"Our priorities for 2013/14 include support of 200 or more smallholder farmers, co-operatives, including a climate smart agricultural project, and commercial farmers with access to markets, extension services and financial support," said Gauteng MEC for Agriculture, Rural and Social Development, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, on Thursday, 30 May 2013, while delivering her 2013/14 Budget Vote Speech.

The MEC said from 2009 to 2013, the department had supported a total of 780 smallholder farmers and cooperatives, through the Letsema/Ilima grant, with poultry and piggery production inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, diesel, herbicides, on-farm infrastructure including fences, gates to secure farms, water tight containers and boreholes to ensure access to irrigation water.

The services were rendered to smallholder farmers and cooperatives in Emfuleni, Midvaal, Randfontein, Lesedi, Mogale city local municipalities, as well as in City of Johannesburg and Tshwane.

Mayathula-Khoza said her department's budget allocation for 2013/14 had increased by seven percent to R553,571,000, from R516,479,000 in 2012/13.

The sustainable agrarian reform with a thriving small and large farming sector has been allocated R72,908,000.

This sector played an important role towards achieving food security, reduction of hunger and poverty, rural development, skills development, inclusive economic growth and job creation.

"One of many success stories includes the Mlengana Farming Project situated in Mogale City, West Rand, which was acquired in December 2008 through the ... proactive land acquisition strategy," the MEC said.

To date, the successful farm has 250 cattle (Bonsmara, Simbra and Brahman), 200 sheep, (Mutton Merino and Dorper), 75 Boer goats and 100 organic chickens.

"We supported this and the surrounding farms with maize production inputs and tractor services.

"Currently, the farmer is selling his livestock or products at auctions, and is looking at other marketing avenues and we are providing assistance in this regard," she said.

The farm was profitable and had created full- and part-time employment for the surrounding unemployed youth.