The MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Zoleka Capa cordially invites members of the media to attend the official launch of ploughing season, themed “Phezukomkhono” in an event at Ngqeleni Sports ground.
Since last year, the department has embarked on an aggressive crop production project to develop land and during its first year of implementation, 8 079 hectares were developed. In this financial year, an amount of R38 million is allocated to a ploughing project, which will make it possible to plant more than the previous year.
Furthermore other organisations, including Old Mutual’s Wiphold investment arm and government departments, especially Social Development were engaged top-up the number of hectors targeted.
This year’s programmes has been themed, “Phezukomkhono” which is a bird that marks the start of the spring season and signals that the first maize seeds should be planted. The department is calling this programme phezukomkhono” because it strives to plough and plant timeously while “Phezukomkhono” is still singing. Horse, oxen and donkeys will do also join the tractor ploughing (this is known as animal traction).
The event will also see a visit to a feedlot, which aims at feeding rural livestock with nutritious feed so that they can be marketed while Vet services will vaccine sheep for sheep scab disease.
Members of the media are invited to grace this event and witness while the first seeds of maize are being planted, with the Hon MEC riding a tractor.
Details of the event:
Date: 14 October 2013
Venue: Ngqeleni Sports Grounds
Time: 9h00
