Kuyintokozo ukuba lapha KwaXimba namuhla, lapho sizoshaya khona izinyoni ezimbili ngetshe elilodwa sizokwethula uhlelo lokutshala bese sigubha noSuku Lwabesifazane Basezindaweni Ezisemakhaya Emhlabeni Jikelele, iInternational Rural Womens Day.

Bantu baKwaXimba ninenhlanhla. Akwandele bani ukugubha imicimbi emibili ngesikhathi esisodwa endaweni eyodwa. NesiZulu siyasho ukuthi umuthi kawumbiwa ndawonye futhi nezibiba ziyeqana. Ngeke kusisize ngalutho ukuzifanisa nabantu abanenhlanhla njengomphakathi waKwaXimba.

Namuhla sizokhumbuzana ukuthi ukutshala kuyisiqalo nesiphetho sempilo yethu. Ngisho eBhayibhelini kuyavela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wadala abantu qede wababeka eNsimini yase-Eden ukuze baziphilise ngokutshala.

Uma silaxaza ukutshala sifana nabantu ababukela phansi umlando wabo – lokho kuzoholela ekutheni sithembele kwezinye izizwe ukuze siphile kodwa sibe sinawo umhlaba wokutshala ukuze kuhlale kunokudla ezweni.

2022/23 Multi Planting Season Provincial Launch

On the 11th of October 2022 an outstanding launch was spearheaded by the Premier in UMziwabantu Local Municipality in the Ugu District. Subsequent to the Provincial Launch, the province is holding District Launches and as per Cabinet resolution, the MEC District Champions are leading these launches envisaged to take place during the month of October 2022.

The Breakdown of the District Launches is as follows:

KZN Provincial Multi Planting Season Launch UGu (Provincial Launch) 11-Oct-22;

Hon Ms A Bani- Mapena , MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport & Recreation Umzinyathi 20-Oct-22;

Hon Mr S Hlomuka , MEC for Transport , Community Safety and Liaison Harry Gwala 20-Oct-22;

Hon Mr. S Duma, MEC for DEDTEA UMgungundlovu 21-Oct-22;

Hon Ms. M Frazer, MEC for Education uThukela 21-Oct-22;

Hon Mrs N.M. Khoza, MEC for DSD Ugu 25-Oct-22;

Hon Mr. S Zikalala, MEC for COGTA Umkhanyakude 26-Oct-22;

Hon Dr. N Mahlaba , MEC for Human Settlements & Public Works Zululand 26-Oct-22;

Hon Mrs N.S. Simelane, MEC for DOH Amajuba 27-Oct-22;

Hon Mrs N.P. Nkonyeni, MEC for Treasury Ilembe 27-Oct-22;

Hon Mrs B.N Sithole-Moloi, MEC for DARD King Cetshwayo 28-Oct-22

Launch of eThekwini Multi-planting Season 2022

Our government has identified agriculture as one of the key drivers in the KZN Provincial Growth Development Plan (PGDP) to ensure that there is food security and radical economic development in KwaZulu-Natal. To address this challenge the government of KwaZulu-Natal through the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has intervened with an aggressive and holistic Multi-Planting Season Approach.

This is to resource poor farmers to participate in the mainstream economy by developing vast tracks of underutilized land. By encouraging the development of vast tracts of underutilized agricultural land through increased production, the Department provides a comprehensive mechanization services, land preparation service inclusive of production inputs and mechanization to indigent, vulnerable households and underprivileged communities.

The Multi-Planting Season consists of the following highlight activities:

Supply of production inputs (fertilizer, seed and chemicals);

Provision of mechanization services (ploughing, discing, planting and application of agro-chemicals and fertilizer);

Assistance with marketing of produce especially through the government lead Radical Agrarian Socio-Economic Transformation programme (RASET) and other outlets.

During the planting season the province focuses on the production of summer crops (maize and beans) and vegetable production in support of the RASET programme. Farmers, especially subsistence and smallholder producers rely on the produce planted during this period for staple commodities, which supply starch and protein source for our food security requirements.

The programme is further designed to provide better access to food and create an opportunity for localised production in order to promote equitable access by the resource poor households. We are fully aware that food shortage is especially acute in deep rural areas where stable and other food prices are very high. In spite of the fact that access to food is a right entrenched in Section 27:1 (b) of our country’s Constitution, KZN is amongst the provinces with the highest proportions of households with inadequate access to food and is above national average of 15.8%.

This programme identifies under-utilized arable land which can be used to address local food needs and in the 2021/22 Financial Year, the Department assisted farmers to cultivate 29 417.60. In 2022/23 distribution of the 22 310 hectares per district, commodities and beneficiaries for 2022/23 financial year.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Ladies and Gentlemen the planting season programme has a potential to create 500 job opportunities during and post operations through various services including, but not limited to tractor operators, crop management and harvesting services. The programme further provides opportunities for the use of SMME’s through the provision of mechanization services. To this end, the department where possible appointed B-BBEE Level 1 SMMEs as local contractors for mechanization services.

The implementation of the programme is envisaged to reach approximately 10209 beneficiaries across the province. The majority of the beneficiaries comprises almost 65% of female beneficiaries represented by approximately 6644 people. Furthermore, approximately 962 youth and 84 disabled people involved in agriculture will also benefit from the support provided.

A total budget of R55 524 million has been made available for 2022/23 Multi Planting Season Programme to accommodate only the mechanisation services excluding two mechanization activities, i.e. first and second spraying. In year 2022/23, Mechanisation Service Providers who are on a 3 Year Contract will be utilized. It is expected that 19 476 hectares are to be cultivated using mechanization service providers while 1 760 hectares through farmer mechanisation, 550 hectares through communal Estates, and 624 hectares through departmental fleet.

2022/23 TOTAL HECTARES SCHEDULED FOR PLANTING IN ETHEKWINI:

As part of the above programme today we are launching the planting season in eThekwini. We are pleased that this occasion like in the rest of the province, are being rolled out in conjunction with the traditional leadership and community leadership to ensure that no one is left behind. For this financial year, the eThekwini District has an allocation of 250ha on mechanisation for the production of vegetables, maize, beans production. There are 8 tractors with allocated diesel currently available for the provision of mechanisation services within the district. The implementation of the programme is envisaged to reach approximately 934 beneficiaries in the eThekwini District.

The majority of the beneficiaries are categorised as follows: Males: 361; Females: 651; Youth: 81; Disabled: 13 totalling 934.

We are pleased to report that based on the OSS Cabinet reports eThekwini has managed to achieve all the major parts of the delivery in both Ward 4 and Ward 1 including the following:

Currently installing an irrigation system on 0.4 ha and provided seed packs, mechanisation services, fencing material to the 1000 Hills Project in Ward 4;

Provided fencing material, water tanks, seed packs, garden tools for 7 household gardens in Ward 4;

Established Inchanga dip tank and provided fencing material;

Provided irrigation system for Nonoti garden on 0.6 Ha in Ward 1;

Supplied Garden tools for 17 participants of the Nonoti project;

Provided seed packs for all the project members.

SERVICES OFFERED BY THE MULTI-SEASON PLANTING PROGRAMME

In terms of procurement of production inputs, the department has procured and purchased inputs for eThekwini district including 31 Tons of fertilizer, 3 Tons of seeds (maize and dry beans), various chemicals, mechanization and machinery repairs to procure production inputs and repair tractors and implements.

As part of multi-planting season, the department has committed to the plan to produce its own seeds and seedling to reduce reliance and ever rising costs. This will be achieved through the establishment of five mega nurseries and research stations throughout the province. This initiative will engage all producers to take part in the seed and seedling production through the Agronomic Seed and Horticultural Seedling Production plan with the aim of multiplying and producing seeds for the next planting season. This will ensure that farmers have sufficient seedlings. This method will encourage seed production at the ground level and will ensure that the majority of our producers are seed secured.

INCHANGA AGRICULTURE PROFILE

In Inchanga there are 12 crop production and 5 livestock projects that the department is supporting. These projects exclude individual gardens that the extension support is provided. Over the years to date, the Department has been providing agricultural extension support in both animal and crop production with the following projects being supported in this area:

I. Mvini Ongoing Extension support, Erection of Fence, Irrigation installation & Production Inputs;

II. Thembalethu Ongoing Extension support, Erection of fence & Production Inputs;

III. Ingqayizivele Ongoing Extension support, Erection of Fence, Bush Clearing, Irrigation installation & Production Inputs;

IV. Phezukomkhono Ongoing Extension support, construction of wrier Irrigation installation & , Production Inputs;

V. Ntuli Ongoing Extension support, Erection of fence & Production Inputs;

VI. Ingqalabutho Ongoing Extension support & Production Inputs;

VII. Osizweni Ongoing Extension support, Erection of fence & Production Inputs;

VIII. Skhonce Ongoing Extension support, Erection of Fence thought the Departmental implementing agent(ADA) & Production Inputs;

IX. Nthuthuko Ongoing Extension support, & Production Inputs 10 Mngcweni 1 Ongoing Extension support, Erection of Fence & Production Inputs;

X. Masibambane Ongoing Extension support, & Production Input;

XI. Msunduze Ongoing Extension support, Irrigation installation & Production Inputs;

XII. Isithumba Ongoing Extension support, Irrigation installation Construction of Pack house & Production Inputs;

XIII. Zizamele Ongoing Extension support & Production Inputs;

XIV. Bhobhonono Ongoing Extension support, & Production Inputs;

XV. Nonoti Ongoing Extension support, Erection of Fence& Production Inputs;

XVI. Umhlabathi Ongoing Extension support, Erection of fence Irrigation installation & Production Inputs’

XVII. Mvini Ongoing Extension support, Erection of fence & Production Inputs

LIVESTOCK SUPPORT

Livestock support in KwaXimba involves a number of individual cattle producers utilising the services of five dip tanks, with a minimum of 600 cattle per dip tank. There are also goats in the area and some farmers have tried to breed better indigenous goats through controlled breeding and support to poultry structures in the area. The following poultry projects are being supported.

I. Umuntungabantu Poultry 2 X 500 capacity Poultry houses, Fencing, water tank & Borehole

II. Senzokuhle Poultry 2 X 500 capacity Poultry houses & Fencing

III. Nomfihlela Diptank Constructed & rehabilitated Dip tank

IV. Othweba Dip Tank Constructed & rehabilitated Dip tank

V. Ntsjane Diptank Constructed & rehabilitated Dip tank

VI. Mngcweni Diptank Constructed & rehabilitated Dip tank

VII. Thuthuma Diptank Constructed & rehabilitated Dip tank

VIII. Majikela Diptank Constructed & rehabilitated Dip tank

IX. 2015 Drought relief Program Feed, water tanks & water troughs to 50 beneficiaries

UKUBALULEKA KWEZOLIMO

Isikhathi esiphila kuso manje siyasiphoqa ukuthi sishintshe indlela yokucabanga nokwenza ngoba kwasona isikhathi nesimo sezulu sesishintshile kunaleso ebesisijwayele. Ukuzitshalela ukudla okuthi thina, sisebenzisa izindlela zobuchwepheshe besimanje, lokho kuyosibeka endleleni yokulwa nokudula kokudla, sikwazi ukuphila impilo engcono nethuthukayo.

Mphakathi waKwaXimba, namuhla silapha ukuzokwethula uhlelo olubizwa nge-SMART Agriculture kule ndawo. Ngalolu hlelo sisebenzisa ezobuchwepheshe ukuze sithuthukise ezolimo, ikakhulukazi ezindaweni ezisemakhaya nasemalokishini, okuyilapho abantu bakithi begcwele khona futhi bebhekana nengwadla yokubiza kokudla ezitolo.

Njengoba lolu hlelo luqondene nokugujwa koSuku Lwabesifazane Basezindaweni Ezisemakhaya eMhlabeni, silapha ukuzokhombisa abalimi basemakhaya kanye nabesifazane ukuthi bangabusebenzisa kanjani ubuchwepheshe bezolimo ukuphucula isivuno sabo. Ukusebenzisa ezobuchwepheshe kwezolimo kuzoheha kakhulu intsha kanye nabantwana besikole ukuthi bangene kulo mkhakha wezolimo ngoba bona bangongoti ekusebenziseni ezobuchwepheshe besimanje.

Ubungoti bentsha nabafundi kwezobuchwepheshe kuzosiza abalimi nabesifazane asebekhulile ukuthi bafunde entsheni ukuthi lobu buchwepheshe busetshenziswa kanjani futhi buzoba wusizo olungakanani kwezolimo ukuze kuliwe nendlala.

Akumele sisasele emuva njengoba sesikwi-Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) efaka kakhulu ezobuchwepheshe ngoba yibo osebulawula izimpilo zethu manje. Izwe lakithi lasala kwiFirst Revolution, Sasala kuSecond Industrail Revolution, saphinde saba semuva kwiThird Indiustrial Revolution. Asizimisele ukusala kwiFourth, Fifth namanye amaIndustrial Revoution ezayo.

Ezobuchwepheshe zibaluleke kakhulu kulesi sikhathi samanje – ngoLwesine besiseMgungundlovu esikoleni i-Orient Heights Primary lapho kade siyokwethula uhlelo olubizwa nge-Smart Province. Ngalolu hlelo sihlose ukufaka abafundi bethu kwezobuchwepheshe besebancane ukuze babone amathuba emisebenzi nokunye okulethwa yi-Fourth Industrial Revolution emhlabeni jikelele.

Sinxusa ukuthi amadoda awaxwaye lawo madoda ahudulela phansi isithunzi sabesifazane ngokuthi abahlukumeze. Sicela abesilisa bafundisa nabafana ukuthi umuntu wesifazane akahlukunyezwa futhi akabekwa isandla, kodwa uyavikelwa aphathiswe okweqanda.

Siyabonga.

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