MEC’s from all sector departments led by the provincial Premier Cassel Mathale visited Mulati Village in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality in Mopani during the EXCO visit on Friday, 19 March 2010. This democratic event served as a platform for the community to voice their needs and challenges. Local famers also had an opportunity to market and sell their products at the Department of Agriculture’s exhibition stall, while informative publications were given to the public. It is through these kinds of events where people are undeniably put first. The executive itself also makes instant decisions and recommendations.
An hour before the event kick started, the MEC for Agriculture MEC Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba had a moment with the people who give meaning to agricultural industry within the Mulati community. Being the mouthpiece of 28 women and a male member behind Titirheleni community project, Mrs Selina Mashaba narrated briefly the challenges that the project is faced with. During one on one interaction with the MEC, she informed the MEC about the lack of electricity and shortage of irrigation water. She also indicated that if they can have water they will be able to plough vegetables, sell them and be able to hire a security to secure their chickens.
Addressing the women of Titirheleni project, MEC Letsatsi-Duba promised to personally handle the water issue to see if there is anything she could do about water provision to enable the project to reach new heights. “If the success of this project is being hindered by the shortage of water, then I will trace where the water problem lies since there is a borehole so that water can be made available,” said the MEC. She also encouraged them to regularly communicate their challenges with the district officials to ensure the sustainability of the project.
As the event continued, representatives of people from all spheres of life in Mulati Village took the stage one by one tabling their interest groups’ priority needs. Amongst them was Mr Thulani Baloyi representing local farmers. Mr Baloyi spoke briefly about the challenges that the farming projects around the village are faced with. He said that most of the farming projects in the village are not operating to their fullest capacity due to lack of electricity to enable the farmers to pump water from the available boreholes. He also said that due to lack of security fence in some farms, vegetables are being eaten by livestock which somehow demoralises the farmers.
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Limpopo Provincial Government
19 March 2010
Source: Department of Agriculture, Limpopo Provincial Government (http://www.lda.gov.za/)
