Jubilation filled the air at Qhimirha Village in Sterkpruit, Joe Gqabi District, as Eastern Cape MEC for Agriculture, Ms Nonceba Kontsiwe, handed over a multi-purpose shed, a spring water project and a tractor with its implements to local farmers.
The interventions form part of the Department’s efforts to ensure that farmers have the necessary tools to advance their agricultural enterprises towards commercial production.
Speaking at the handover, MEC Kontsiwe urged community members and farmers to safeguard government investments and utilise the support to grow their agricultural businesses.
“We are here to ensure that you have the necessary tools that will elevate your businesses so that you become commercial farmers. I urge you to ensure that the investment made by government is safeguarded so that it can serve the purpose it is intended, which is to develop yourselves and grow the economic activities in your community. These investments are given by government to ensure that your lives are better than yesterday,” said MEC Kontsiwe.
During the visit, the MEC also toured a local farm owned by former mineworker Mr Mncedisi Ncephe, who returned home after retrenchment and started crop farming. His Makarabha Mixed Farming project now has more than 100 hectares under production.
The farm, located in Qobosheane Village, produces vegetables including potatoes, pumpkins, sorghum, butternut and green beans, as well as grains such as wheat and maize. The produce is supplied to outlets across the Joe Gqabi District Municipality.
“I would like to thank the government for its support, and this tractor will grow the business. I want to ensure that all fields that are lying fallow are planted. When I came back home from the mines, I saw that our fields were not utilised. I then sourced all the fields that were not planted in my village and started farming. I also employed people locally to ensure they put food on the table,” said Ncephe.
The Department has also supported the project with a water tank, vegetable seeds, fertiliser, a water pump and ongoing technical advice.
The multi-purpose shed handed over is one of ten constructed by the Department during the 2025/26 financial year in the district to support communal wool farmers by enhancing aggregation and improving access to formal markets.
The wool production project consists of 23 members, including 13 men and 10 women, who collectively own more than 800 sheep.
Chairperson of the shed, Mr Zwelinzima Ntambam, welcomed the support provided by the Department.
“We used to have challenges when it was time to shear our sheep because the old structure was damaged and our wool would get spoiled. We are relieved that the Department has supported us with this shed, which will enhance the quality of our wool,” he said.
The shed includes ablution facilities, a plunge dip with an evaporation pan, shearing equipment with sorting tables, bins, a cable press and a weighing scale.
Farmers send their wool to Gqeberha where it is sold through the wool broker BKB, which assists farmers in accessing international markets. Weaners and culled sheep are sold through local abattoirs and marketing agents.
The spring water project will benefit more than 500 households in Qhimirha Village by providing access to clean drinking water through 29 water points for domestic use and irrigation. An additional tap has been installed at Qhimirha Primary School.
During the implementation of the project, at least 51 job opportunities were created. Of these, 48 positions were filled by women and approximately 55% of the workers were young people, with only three men employed.
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