Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, will use his visit to the Zanendyebo Farmers Day on Tuesday to also monitor the status of a food security programme.
Qoboshiyane’s department is supporting local farmers to plant maize on 78 hectares of land in Tsomo.
“The cooperative is a congregation of farmers planting maize and keeping livestock in the Qombolo A/A at the Upper Tsojana in Tsomo at the Chris Hani Distrct Municipality,” the Eastern Cape Department said.
“The MEC will visit the food security maize plantation to look at the condition of the maize, the number of hectares planted and hold talks with the local farmers participating in the food security programme.”
The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform said that its support to the Zanendyebo farmers started in 2010 with planting of maize on 20 hectares of land.
The Department also provided machinery, seeds, fertilizer and chemicals for plantations and was now supporting the farmers with the production of maize on 78 hectares in the area.
“The estimated yield from the 78 hectares is about four to five tons per hectare and farmers sell the maize to the Umthiza Farmers Co-op, the Ncorha Dairy and the informal market,” the Department said.
