Vhembe farmers call for Department of Agriculture's intervention

Twenty commercial farmers operating in the Vhembe District are calling on the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Nakedi Kekana, to revive the Limpopo Agriculture Advice Forum (LAAF) as they believe its absence is leading to numerous challenges.

During a meeting convened by the farmers on 14 August at the Makhado Agricultural Office, the challenges they face were discussed. One of the setbacks highlighted was the lack of government subsidies.

Wilson Muvhulawa, a crop and livestock farmer, said it had been a long time since the government had provided any kind of support to farmers. “We need subsidies to be able to farm on a larger scale,” Muvhulawa said.

However, Mothotse Moshupologo, spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD), said that since 2023, the Vhembe District had been hit hard by drought, and the department had provided contingency plans. He said the LDARD had provided R7.2 million to assist livestock farmers in procuring feed. A total of 21,400 of 40kg feed concentrates were procured to assist 1,784 farmers in the province. “The situation has not yet improved, and the department continues to monitor it,” he said.

Another complaint raised by the farmers was that agriculture extension officers in the district are no longer visiting farming areas.

Moshupologo denied this, stating that the department had implemented reporting tools. “This system helps extension officers register their farmers and interact with them on their farms. Through this system, the department can monitor the activities of the extension officers,” he said.

Local farmers were encouraged to contact the LDARD when they face challenges.

A representative of the Democratic Alliance, who was also present at the meeting, undertook to write to MEC Kekana, asking her to revive the LAAF.

Date:29 August 2024

By: Bernard Chiguvare

Bernard Chiguvare is a Zimbabwean-born journalist. He writes mainly for the online publication, Groundup.

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