Help from abroad to grow crops

OR TAMBO District Municipality’s executive mayor, Nomakhosazana Meth, has entered into an agreement with Argentina to restore agriculture in the region.

Last month, a municipal delegation visited Argentina with the purpose of strengthening relations with the South American country to develop local agriculture.

This is because the municipality believes that poor communities in the Eastern Cape’s OR Tambo Municipal District would find their circumstances greatly improved if they were able to better cultivate their land.

Parts of Argentina are known for producing maize and leading the way in agriculture.

“Our land was lying fallow for a long time. Now it’s time to restore them and grow our crops. We are taking this project very seriously.

“Most of our fathers, brothers and sisters are working in the mines.

“But now the mines have been hit by retrenchments, and the closure of the mines will hit us hard in this region,” the mayor said.

“That’s why we need to use the land we have properly, so that when the miners return home they can use the land to provide for their families,” said Meth.

She urged the people of the OR Tambo region to focus more on cultivating the land they live on.

“We need to use our land to accommodate our fathers and brothers who have been retrenched from the mines,” she said.

The partnership project would also help people in the nearby districts that fall under the Joe Gqabi, Chris Hani and Alfred Nzo district municipalities, she pointed out.

“This (agreement) was signed in 2013 to strengthen and develop the agricultural sector in these municipalities, while working hand in glove with Argentina.

“This is a massive project, which will come with an investment of about R27 billion,” Meth said.

Of the 200 000 hectares allocated for the project with Argentina, the OR Tambo region has 45 000 hectares of land earmarked for the benefit of the local farmers. – Health-e News