Call for arable land to be planted to fight poverty and hunger

The Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Department (DRDAR) MEC, Nonceba Kontsiwe, has reiterated the call for communities to produce their own food for consumption and selling. Kontsiwe made the call during the handover of a tractor and farming implements to the Goboti Residents' Association, held at Goboti village, eNgcobo, on Thursday. The tractor will aid the MEC's interventions to fight poverty and hunger, in response to the Human Rights Commission report that called for urgent intervention to address the challenges of poverty and hunger. Kontsiwe has committed to intensify programmes in support of vulnerable households. This has seen the department investing R60 million in R30 000 vulnerable households in anti-poverty sites across the province, from 2009 to 2024. "During the same period, the department delivered vegetable seeds, including seedlings, maize, poultry feed, poultry medication, chicks, and fertilisers to 205 038 households for food production to eradicate poverty," Kontsiwe highlighted. The MEC has been advocating for church, school, and communities' arable lands to be cultivated to produce food. Engagements have been continuing with an organisation led by clergymen - an initiative that is being seen as a launching pad to realise that goal. 'In the last financial year, the organisation which deals with rural development initiatives was provided by DRDAR with 15 sewing machines, which they are using to train 50 women, who mostly are young,' Kontsiwe said. At the event, Kontsiwe also unveiled a 'Green Revolution' project spearheaded by the association led by the church leaders, which has a long-term goal of seeing every household's garden planted. Source: South African Government News Agency