The Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform cordially invites members of the media to witness the launch Ilima/Letsema that will be held at Ngcobo in Zadungeni A/A on 18 April 2011.
Honourable MEC Zoleka Capa will be launching this program in one of the municipality which is part of the roll-out of rural development pilot sites.
Started in the 2009/10 financial year with only 200 – one hector gardens the programme has grown by a whopping 257 gardens.
The programme target one hector gardens , which meant that some households had to combine their gardens to meet the requirement in a development that saw more than 1 000 households benefiting from the 457 one-hector gardens planted by the department.
At least six villages in the Zadungeni A/A are benefiting from this programme in which the department has provided fertilisers, maize seeds as well as spinach, potatoes, beans and pumpkin seedlings.
In line with the intentions of the Hon. MEC of spreading Letsema to new areas, the department intends to expand the programme to Ntibaneni A/A where seven villages with a about 1 236 will benefit in the 635 hectors identified to be ploughed.
Allocating R47,6 million towards food security, the MEC highlighted in her Policy Speech that Letsema programme "will target new communities or participants in this financial year; those communities who never benefited from the department’s programs due to various reasons.”
It is the aim of the government to ensure that people are producing food in a bid to fight poverty and under-development as well as stirring up rural economic development through agricultural programmes like Letsema.
Expected guests include the Hon. MEC Zoleka Capa for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, the Traditional Leaders and Departmental Senior Management.
Details of the event:
Date: 18 April 2011
Venue: Engcobo - Zadungeni A/A
Time: 10h00
For more information contact:
Ayabulela Ngoqo (Spokesperson)
Cell: 071 6033 235 or 071 842 3937
