KwaZulu-Natal Premier Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli officially launched the Provincial Multi-Planting Season at eNhlanhleni Mission in the Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipality, under the Harry Gwala District, on Friday, 10 October 2025.
Promoting Food Security and Rural Development
Premier Ntuli was accompanied by MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembeni KaMadlopha Mthethwa, Harry Gwala District Speaker, Cllr S. Mdunge, Deputy Mayor of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipality, Cllr Kholeka Hadebe, and senior government officials.
The Multi-Planting Season is a flagship provincial initiative aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture, strengthening food security, and revitalising rural economies. It also underscores the province’s commitment to empowering local farmers and communities to produce more food, reduce hunger, and contribute to KwaZulu-Natal’s economic resilience.
Responding to Food Insecurity
Recent studies reveal that 15% of people in KwaZulu-Natal still experience food shortages, especially in rural areas. These challenges have been worsened by recurring natural disasters such as droughts and floods, and the lingering socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Ntuli emphasised that the Provincial Government’s Multi-Planting Season Programme was a key response to these challenges, designed to boost local food production, improve livelihoods, and stimulate agricultural productivity across districts.
“Agriculture must be seen as a weapon to defeat hunger and to grow our economy. We must work together to ensure that every piece of arable land is used productively to feed our people and strengthen our communities,” said Premier Ntuli.
Empowering Farmers and Communities
During his keynote address, Premier Ntuli urged young people to see agriculture as a viable career path and a driver of socio-economic transformation. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting smallholder farmers through access to inputs, training, and infrastructure, as part of a broader effort to build a resilient and inclusive agricultural economy.
Provincial Collaboration
The Premier highlighted that the success of the Multi-Planting Season relies on strong partnerships between government, farmers, private sector stakeholders, and communities. This collaborative approach, he said, is vital to ensuring that food production efforts translate into sustainable growth and improved quality of life in rural areas.
The launch of the 2025 Provincial Multi-Planting Season reaffirmed KwaZulu-Natal’s focus on self-sufficiency, rural revitalisation, and long-term food security, setting the tone for a productive agricultural season ahead.