The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will in its effort to strengthen crop production in the province, prioritise the cultivation of about 20 000 hectares of arable land during the 2013/14 financial year. This was pronounced by MEC Desbo Mohono today, Thursday 16 May, during the tabling of the departmental budget vote at the Provincial Legislature.
Mohono said to achieve the set goal, mechanisation packages and fencing will be provided as support services to subsistence farmers, so as to get production off the ground. “Of these hectares, 12 890 will be in Bojanala District, 5 600 in Ngaka Modiri Molema, 7 888 in Dr Kenneth Kaunda, while Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District will plant 1 000 hectares”, announced Mohono.
Mohono told the Provincial Legislature that the same support will be extended to the Taung Irrigation Scheme, where a total of 150 hectares is targeted for fodder production.
“The department commit to deliver on this objective, in our endeavour to promote food production and raise rural employment and income”, said Mohono.
