Farmers and Communal Property Associations (CPAs) in Tigane near Klerksdorp, North West, are set to benefit from improved access to agricultural machinery, following the provincial government’s intervention to boost production and strengthen food security.
North West Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Madoda Sambatha handed over a tractor and other agricultural implements to farmers on Monday, as part of efforts to address limited access to mechanisation among small-scale and emerging farmers.
The tractor will operate as a shared service for farmers from the Seven Seasons, Oblate, Thusanang and Ikageng CPAs in the Tigane community.
The department also handed over a boom sprayer and disc plough to strengthen farmers’ operational capacity and support agricultural production.
The intervention forms part of the provincial government’s broader strategy to transform the agricultural sector, reduce poverty, and strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers in rural communities.
Speaking during the handover, Sambatha said access to agricultural machinery is critical to increasing production and supporting livelihoods among under-resourced farming communities.
“This intervention speaks directly to our commitment to uplifting rural farming communities. The tractor and implements we are handing over today are not just machinery; they are essential tools for increasing production, strengthening livelihoods and improving food security,” the MEC said.
Local farmer and beneficiary, Ramasimane Kalaote, welcomed the support, saying the machinery will assist emerging farmers in the area to improve their farming operations.
“Farming without the necessary implements can be difficult, but we are grateful for this support and promise that the equipment will be put to good use,” Kalaote said.
The department said limited access to mechanisation remains a significant barrier to agricultural production, particularly among emerging farmers.
It said providing farmers with the necessary equipment would help improve productivity, increase yields, and strengthen household and community food security.
The department said it will continue prioritising investment in agricultural infrastructure, mechanisation and production resources, particularly in historically marginalised rural communities where limited access to farming equipment continues to constrain agricultural development.
“Through these interventions, the department is strengthening farmers’ access to the resources they need to increase production, improve livelihoods and contribute to food security across the province,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
