THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has injected R500 000 into agricultural projects at local schools and community-based projects with a donation of fencing material, livestock feed, water tanks, farming tools, storage containers and seed among others.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture, Noluthando Pink, pledged her support to the beneficiaries of the 25 projects and said that follow-up visits should take place to ensure that the equipment and material were used for their intended purposes.
“We want to see you grow and access markets in order for you to sell your produce.
“Agriculture is critical in efforts to ensure food security. If we do not work the land, we will not be able to grow the necessary produce in order to put nutritious food on our tables.
“It is not our intention to provide you with support and leave you on your own.
“We will have site visits to make sure all the equipment, tools and material given out today, are used to grow and improve your projects,” Pink said.
Last week, Tiryville Food Garden received seeds, a water tank, fencing material and garden equipment.
Other recipients included the Alushi Foundation Trust (garden equipment and seeds); John Masiza Primary (garden equipment and seeds); Seyisi Primary School (seeds and land preparation); Morningside High School (garden equipment, land preparation and seeds) and the Uitenhage Farmers’ Trust (cattle feed).
Nomawethu Mnyani from Masizame Small Farm said, “This equipment and material will help us to feed our livestock and it motivates us to improve our yields so that we can become commercial farmers and be able to create more jobs in our townships.
“This is indeed a development in action. Our children will become the farmers of tomorrow because we will be able to sustain and grow our projects,” she added.
The Pendla Public School also received garden equipment, land preparation and seeds; KwaMagxaki High School now have garden equipment, land preparation and seeds for their project; Bonzai Primary School received garden equipment, water pipes, water tank and seeds, while the Plaatjie family farm gained livestock feed.
Other recipients were the KwaNoxolo Clinic (seeds, land preparation and equipment), while the Siwa and Mniki farms and the Mzingisi Project each received livestock feed.
Ten other projects will receive their share of donations shortly.
The focus of the project is to support sustainable initiatives to address socio-economic factors such as unemployment and was evaluated by the economic development, tourism and agriculture committee and approved by the mayoral committee.
