KZN government launches hunger-buster multi-planting season campaign

Agriculture put at the centre of province's turnkey programme to assist smallholder farms, alleviate poverty and bring relief to the indigent and vulnerable households

- Jyothi Laldas

As the country faces a costof-living crisis, agriculture has been placed at the centre of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) government’s efforts to ensure sustainable food security, job creation and economic growth with the launch of the 2023-24 provincial multi-planting season at Impendle, Umgungundlovu District recently.

In an effort to quell challenges affecting the development of the provincial agricultural sector, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development intervened through the creation of the annual multi-planting season, which is an aggressive and holistic approach to aid smallholder farmers.

The goal is to reduce food insecurity while alleviating poverty, to provide available mechanisation support to the indigent, vulnerable households and underprivileged communities as well as to identify underutilised agricultural land for food production. The project is described as government’s turnkey, fool-proof, solution-driven campaign aimed at mobilising resources, providing support, access to finance, information and markets in the agricultural sector.

The event was led by KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube together with the province’s Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Super Zuma, Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Siboniso Duma, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi, Education MEC Mbali Fraser and Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza.

Through the district development model, all MECs will be rolling out the provincial programme within their respective districts and communities.