The Eastern Cape provincial government plans to utilize and support agricultural activities as a key strategy to address poverty in the province, responding to a Human Rights Commission report urging urgent action. This initiative was announced by MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR), Nonceba Kontsiwe, during the handover of a tractor and its implements to the Gobothi Residents’ Association. The association expressed gratitude for the government’s support in revitalizing fallow and arable land in the village.
Nonceba Kontsiwe emphasized the importance of communities producing their own food for both consumption and sale, noting that the government aims to ensure every arable piece of land in communities, schools, and church properties is cultivated. “We are here to hand over a tractor to the Goboti Residents Association and encourage them because they are doing great work in planting many hectares. We are responding to the Human Rights Commission report that highlights poverty in parts of the Eastern Cape,” Kontsiwe stated.
“We want to fight poverty and eradicate it completely. Our goal is for each household to have a backyard or home-based garden. We want to strengthen this initiative and encourage those who have not yet started agricultural programs to do so,” she added.
The MEC highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable households, with DRDAR investing R60 million from 2009 to 2024 in Anti-Poverty sites across the province. During this period, DRDAR has delivered vegetable seeds, seedlings, maize, poultry feed, medication, chicks, and fertilizers to 205,038 households to support food production and combat poverty.
The handover event marked the launch of a “Green Revolution” led by the association, aiming for every household to have a garden. The association’s director, Rev. Gcobani Vika, thanked the government for assisting them in achieving their long-term vision of food security and economic development. “We are launching what we term as the Green Revolution. The Eastern Cape government has provided us with a tractor to continue planting fields and vegetable gardens in every household. This has always been our dream,” Rev. Vika said.
Executive Mayor of AB Xuma Municipality, Siyabulela Zangqa, praised the project as a catalyst for addressing the triple challenges faced by rural communities and committed to supporting its expansion. “To fight poverty, unemployment, and inequality, we need to intensify our agricultural efforts and ensure everyone has the opportunity to work in the fields. The government is here to lend a hand and assist those who have already started their own initiatives,” Zangqa stated.
He added that the Chris Hani District Municipality has identified 800 hectares for cultivation and that discussions are underway to ensure the land is ploughed.
MEC Kontsiwe expressed optimism about the project’s potential to become a significant enterprise with economic benefits. “Our goal is for everyone to get involved in agriculture to combat poverty and support communities. We believe this will transform lives. Project members will have numerous opportunities, including joining the Department of Education’s nutrition program, supplying local supermarkets, or even starting their own markets,” Kontsiwe said.
