in the Eastern Cape province
2 August 2006
This happened during the revival of the six Eastern Cape Irrigation Schemes
and sod turning of R3,7 million Dairy Parlour in Keiskammahoek yesterday, 1
August 2006. These schemes are Ncora, Qamata, Zanyokhwe, Shiloh, Tyhefu and
Keiskammahoek and were revived following the MEC Nkwintiâs pronouncement during
his policy speech this year.
Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, Lulu Xingwana, said âEastern Cape
is very rich in agriculture and therefore the land has to be utilised to its
maximum.â Beneficiaries were encouraged to be creative when thinking of the
developing the land and look at means of commercial use. She commended the MEC
Gugile Nkwinti for the awards that the Department have obtained which is Key to
Africa Award and Premiers Award for Excellence, as being mentioned by the
honourable Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo Balindlela on her message during this
event.
This day was blessed by the presence of the Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo
Balindlela, MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Development in the
Eastern Cape, King Sandile Maxhoba and other stakeholders. This has been a very
huge event that brought hope to the community where irrigation will be
producing at a very high scale.
According to Mr Zukile Pityi the General-Manager for Farmer Support and
Development (FSD) when giving the background âthese irrigation schemes used to
provide food and jobs for our communities and it is time to bring back that
food. The whole programme is driven by the pillars of New Partnership for
Africaâs Development (NEPAD) which is the expansion of land under irrigation
and water conservation, capacity building and trade related issues so as to
fight poverty as it is stipulated in the Accelerated and Shared Growth
Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA).â
Minister Xingwana encouraged the farmers to use the land wisely and
constructively and work together. âI really appreciate the joint venture
between the White and Black farmers; this country is rich enough for all of
us,â she said.
She also mentioned that her Department is currently irrigating 1,3 million
hectares of land and has estimated that by increasing water use efficiency from
the point of release or obstructions to the final product they can irrigate two
million hectares with the present allocation of water on a volume basis. This
project will benefit 6 192 direct beneficiaries on 6 853 hectares.
Silwindlale Womenâs Project that received a tractor from the Department was
also launched on that day.
For more information contact:
Zoleka Dondolo
Communications Sub-directorate
Tel: (040) 609 3489
Cell: 082 771 7246
Fikile Black
Communications Manager
Tel: (040) 609 3486
Cell: 082 578 1437
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Eastern Cape Provincial
Government
2 August 2006
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za/)
