MEC Desbo Mohono of Agriculture and Rural Development in the North West Province today handed over indigenous chickens and other production inputs to a number of households and centres in the Maquassi Hills Local Municipality.
These agri-starter packs are part of the Accelerated Service Delivery Programme dubbed Thuntsha Lerole. This is a government programme aimed at ensuring that government services are implemented. The starter-packs that were handed over to communities include indigenous chickens for rearing, establishment of vegetable gardens as well as equipment to work gardens.
At the North West Secondary School for the Deaf, the Department assisted with planting of vegetables, installed an irrigation system, provided with shade net, fertilizers and seeds, while the Wolmaransstad Home for the Aged and Life Line Kgakala Centre received trays of eggs. They will also receive fruit trees from the Department.
Speaking on behalf of the North West Secondary School for the Deaf, Mr Johnny Roberts said they are happy to have been part of today’s programme. “As a school, we are grateful to have received production inputs from the Department,” Roberts expressed. He promised that the school will look after the garden and that in no time the garden will be blooming and beautiful.
A total number of twenty (20) households have been identified in the area and will be adopted by the Department to receive the indigenous chickens. MEC Mohono said a total of fifteen young farmers in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda, mostly females, will receive goats as part of the Department’s Goat Massification Programme.
She encouraged residents of Maquassi Hills Municipality to take advantage of food security initiatives by the Department. “Food insecurity remains a pervasive and serious problem. Too many North West residents, especially those residing in the rural areas still regularly find themselves living in poverty and without sufficient access to affordable and nutritious food. I am therefore calling on all residents of this municipality to join the Department in fighting against hunger and poverty by making sure at least each household has a vegetable garden. ” MEC Mohono said.
For sustainability purposes, the agricultural projects will be monitored by the District Food Security Teams from the Department. The Thuntsha Lerole Programme will continue to be rolled out to other parts of the Province.
