The Department of Agriculture’s Ngqushwa Local office today handed over food production inputs to local farmers under the Ilima lokulima Food Production Programme (2025–2030).
Members of the local community received poultry feed, piggery feed, potato, carrot and butternut seeds.
Ngqushwa Local Municipality Mayor delegated councilors Nomzamo Mthathi, Nandipha Dyalvani, Nondyebo Jako and Chief Njokweni from emazizini traditional council and deputy chairperson of Ngqushwa house of traditional leaders attended and delivered messages of support at the event. #Ilimalokulima
MEC Kontsiwe Officially Launches Ilima Lokulima Initiative in KwaNtonga village, Debe Nek.
Eastern Cape MEC for Agriculture Nonceba Kontsiwe has officially lauched Ilima Lokulima Initiative, delivering on her commitment to empower rural communities through Agriculture development.
While the MEC did not attend because she was presenting the 2024/25 Clean Annual Report at the Bisho Provincial Legislature, she deployed local councilors to represent her.
The MEC has committed, through Ilima that the Department will respond to the Food insecurity and economic development.
Ilima calls on communities to come together to cultivate +- 200 gardens.
The Department of Agriculture (DoA) in the Chris Hani District Municipality hosted the annual Extension Advisory Services Awards aimed to recognize and appreciate the work done by Extension officials.
These awards focus on the two pillars that include accountability and visibility when they are servicing the farmers. The officials awarded are those who are making a difference to farmers and are enhancing the image and professionalism in extension services.
“We have communities that depend on our work so that they can produce food.
Extension and Advisory Services Director Noluvuyo Nqeno urged the EAS officers to always be ‘sober minded’ when serving farmers as they are the face of the department.
The winners are as follows:
• Msimelelo Mgolozelwa under Candidate category.
• Ayanda Mvalwana for Certificated category.
• Nangamso Mlaza for Professional category • Thabang Makinya for Technical support category
The Department of Agriculture (DoA) held a LandCare Awareness Campaign at Alex Laing Hall, Kroonvale, Graaff-Reinet on 02 October 2025.
The campaign aimed to educate farmers and land users on sustainable practices that conserve land and the environment for the benefit of present and future generations.
In 2024/25, the Department supported two Land Reform farms with veld grass reseeding due to land degradation. The awareness highlighted interventions implemented by DoA while guiding farmers on prevention measures.
The audience engaged included emerging and smallholder farmers, Land Reform beneficiaries, farmer unions, and land users across Dr Beyers Naudé LM (Aberdeen, Graaff-Reinet, Nieu Bethesda, Klipplaat, Jansenville).
Apart from the DoA officials stakeholders in attendance included, Ward Councilors, Land Reform Department, ECDC, Led section from the Dr Beyers Naudé LM and NDA
The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture is hosting a Strategic Planning Review Programme at the Dohne Research Institute. This program brings together farmers, commodity groups, sister departments and agencies to strengthen key agricultural initiatives, driving food security and economic growth through cost-effective delivery and accountable resource use.
