Polokwane - The Limpopo Provincial Government has set aside more than R40 million to re-capitalise the integrated meat production programme in the province.
Provincial government spokesperson Phuti Mosomane said meat production was important to Limpopo's economy and contributed in the creation of job opportunities for many.
"In the 2010/2011 financial year we spent R20 million to support 459 farmers across the province on production inputs that included seed, fertiliser, poultry production stock and feed. In this financial year, we will use R40 million to support more than 600 farmers," said Mosomane on Monday.
National Emergent Red Meat Producers provincial chairperson, Wilson Muvhulawa, welcomed the allocation. "This will benefit many live stock farmers in the province, especially smallscale farmers, and it will also encourage them to produce more meat," said Muvhulawa.
Mosomane said agriculture was one of the strongest pillars responsible for propelling economic growth in the province.
He said the provincial government would also fund 12 irrigation projects in order to develop irrigation land for food production. The funding will come from the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme and Revitalisation of Smallholder Irrigation Schemes.
He said the initiative formed part of the long term Infrastructure Plan, which aims to grow the provincial agriculture economy over the next five years.
Mosomane said formal farming activity was on a gradual decline owing to competition from international markets, farm subsidies in other countries, the lack of interest amongst younger people, the turning of crop farms into game farms amongst others.
"Alternative income generating opportunities are being explored as agriculture has the potential to provide new opportunities in the province through its multiple effects on the economy. We have to find new ways of beneficiating our agricultural produce as a way of also creating jobs for our people," he said.
Mosomane said Limpopo had also implemented 10 Multiyear Landcare projects to enable communities to mitigate the effects of climate change, curb land degradation, and contribute to both food production and food security.
"We have completed the process of agro-ecological zoning as part of identifying prime but scarce agricultural land. This will enable us to reserve prime agricultural land for food production during spatial planning for development, especially in the municipalities," Mosomane said.
