RASET programme shifts into top gear as EDTEA hands over refrigerated trucks to District Development Agencies
Thousands of emerging farmers in KwaZulu-Natal will now have better access to markets thanks to eight trucks which are being handed over to four districts this month. The trucks are worth a combined
R9.5 million and each of the four districts will receive two trucks.
This morning, MEC Ravi Pillay handed over two trucks to the Ugu Development Agency as part of The Radical Agrarian Socio-Economic Transformation (RASET) programme. The trucks will be used to
transport produce from farms to government and private markets in a bid to support emerging farmers by linking them with markets.
Ugu is one of four districts which will be receiving these trucks this month. The other districts, which will also be receiving two trucks each are uMgungundlovu, uThukela and uMzinyathi. The Radical Agrarian Socio-Economic Transformation (RASET) programme is aimed at increasing economic opportunities for historically previously disadvantaged individuals through value chains and
market access.
MEC Pillay said the 4500 farmers were part of the RASET programme across the province and last year these farmers had produced R52 million worth of produce.
"We want people to move from subsistence farming to small holding which is a little bit bigger. But ultimately we want people to go to commercial farming and at each level we want people to understand it is a business, it is not just a hobby,” said MEC Pillay.
He said it was important to also have young people participating in Agriculture as this sector cannot be regarded as one for older people.
