In a bid to ensure that young farmers have the necessary tools to take their enterprises to the commercial level, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane was joined the Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe to deliver tractors entrepreneurs in line with provincial government’s drive to support young people in farming.
The handover, which was warmly welcomed by the beneficiaries, formed part of the the provincial youth day commemoration held at EmaXesibeni where young people were supported with different tools to grow their enterprises.
The beneficiaries included Mthuthuzeli Sontsele, an Agronomy studies graduate from Bizana who is planting 80-thousand heads of cabbage and Sihle Vuzane of Sigundwini Village, who owns a vegetable farming enterprise called Vivi-Am Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
Speaking at the handover, Premier Mabuyane emphasized the shifting the focus of June 16 incident from being a tragedy to becoming a future opportunity.
“We want to remind young people that liberation was not in vain by giving them opportunities,” Mabuyane said, adding that government support remains ongoing throughout the year. He urged the Department of Agriculture to provide a trailer to Sontsele to transport his produce.
Sontsele (33), is employing local women and youth and he said the machinery provided by the department would “vastly improve mechanization capacity and job creation.”
“I urge the youth to channel their energy into agriculture to ensure food security,” Sontsele said.
MEC Kontsiwe stated the initiative is part of a broader strategy to transition smallholder, previously disadvantaged farmers into commercial success.
“We cannot accept entrepreneurs that are identifying themselves as smallholders for too long. We are placing substantial support to expedite the process of commercialisation,” Kontsiwe said.
