Eastern cape: In a significant push against poverty and malnutrition, the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) has unveiled an R80 million cropping initiative. Aimed at fostering sustainable agriculture and enhancing food security, the programme was inaugurated at Ngxakaxha village within Mbhashe Local Municipality, coinciding with World Food Day.

According to South African Government News Agency, the launch event was themed “Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future,” emphasizing the essential human right to access sufficient food. The initiative plans to cultivate 22,564 hectares, benefiting 10,953 communal and emerging farmers across the region. DRDAR’s Chief Director for Agricultural Producer Support and Development, Nandi Ndudane, shared that R21.6 million is earmarked for the Import Substitute Project to aid local smallholder poultry producers.

Ndudane highlighted the historical impact of similar initiatives, stating, “Between 2009 and 2023, the department
has cultivated 309,930 hectares, aiding 51,847 smallholder producers and producing over 538,000 tons of maize.” She urged the community to begin summer crop planting to continue these efforts against poverty. “We have invested significantly in youth and female farmers, collaborating with private partners and other departments to foster meaningful change,” Ndudane added.

Testimonials from beneficiaries such as Mawande Jama, a local sorghum producer, underscore the personal impact of the programme. Jama noted, “This project has greatly assisted us from soil preparation to harvest, creating numerous job opportunities, including employment for rangers.”

Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe praised the initiative as a vital implementation of government strategies designed to combat food insecurity and malnutrition. “Empowering individuals to produce their own food decreases reliance on social grants,” Tolashe stated, advocating for a national roll-out of these lessons to amplify the benefits across the cou
ntry.

Nozibele Nyalambisa, a member of the Portfolio Committee on DRDAR, also commended the programme, emphasizing its potential to significantly reduce poverty in the province by promoting self-sufficiency and reducing social grant dependency.