Qhamani Mzobotshe, a young farmer from Lufafa Village in Ntabankulu had always had dreams of working in the Geographic field, that is why he pursued Geography and Zoology Studies at University.

Little did he know that soon after graduating the family farming business would draw him nearer and far away from his dreams of working in foreign lands.

Mzobotshe, who runs an agricultural enterprise with his father, received support from the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform to assist him and 200 households to plant grain on 750 hectares of land.

The department gave him inputs in the form of seeds, fertiliser and herbicides for 220 hectares of land.

Thanks to that assistance, Mzobotshe and company are set to yield 4500 tons of grain which will be sold to TWK, PSP and EGFeeds.

On Tuesday, DRDAR MEC Nonkqubela Pieters together with Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane led the first harvest at Mzobotshe’s fields.

Addressing farmers and the community, the Premier said Mzobotshe and other farmers had set a good example. He said government should looking into having a mechanisation centre in the Alfred Nzo District.

The Alfred Nzo District is one of the biggest producers of grain in the province with many of its farmers exporting yellow maize.

The Department, through its inclusive cropping strategy supported farmers to plant 28 529 ha with an investment of R142,8 million.

Source: Government of South Africa