EASTERN CAPE: The farmers in the former Transkei welcomed the idea of the Eastern Cape government to pay more attention to the production of maize in the region. They said maize production used to be the gold and diamond of the province before the modernization took over as now mealie fields turned to be residential areas.
This week the Eastern Cape MEC for Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nonkqubela Peters announced that the department has invested a sum of R79.3 million in maize production covering 26 198 hectares of land in OR Tambo, Alfred Nzo, Amathole, Joe Gqabi and Chris Hani District with R42.3 million of this money is invested in production inputs for farmers for maize production on 13 633 ha. Peters made this announcement during the official launch of the cropping programme in Upper Tabase Village near Mthatha. In this launch, the department also donated the maize seed to be planted in the mealie fields and grain-producing farms. Peters said by doing so, they want to ensure that there is no land that is left unused.
Young farmer Mveleli Mhlonitshwa expressed gratitude to the initiative of the Eastern Cape government. He said there is nothing that can fight back the frontiers of poverty besides using the land. “There is a lot of land in this province but the people don’t have the means to use it. Now that the government has joined hands, it needs people to stand up and get their hands dirty. There is no other wealth, especially in the area which is known as Transkei, than maize production,” said Mhlonitshwa.
