MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Cyril Xaba, went on an oversight visit to the eMadungeni area under the Harry Gwala district on 8 January 2015.
The purpose of the visit was to view and assess the agricultural land, which is under the custodianship of the eMadungeni Tribal Authority headed by Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza.
He visited the Texas Valley Farm which comprises over 1 000 hectares of land.
The farm was transferred to the local community through the land reform programme and administered by the Department of Rural Development and Land Affairs. The vast land however, is not used optimally as a result of challenges faced by the beneficiaries.
The land was primarily used to plough sugarcane but presently, a large portion of the land lies in fallows. The MEC said this is completely regrettable and ought to be addressed immediately by the relevant authorities. MEC Xaba visited local cooperatives in the area that focus on farming different commodities and also viewed a 24-hectare piece of land that is used for the cultivation of maize.
The community, with the help of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, earmarked the land of eMadungeni to harbour projects such as an agri-village and other small-scale agricultural initiatives in order to sustain land use, create employment and agri-businesses.
Speaking to members of the community, MEC Xaba said it is imperative that farmers in the area carry out farming as a business to generate an income. He said the community needs to focus on commodities that are in demand in order to make ends meet and to remain with surplus to buy more seeds for future projects.
Food security remains at the helm of all agricultural projects and agriculture in communal land should provide jobs and create viable businesses.
