The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in the North West Province has brought a spark of hope to the communities in Mahikeng Local Municipality. This follows a handing over of a modern designed livestock handling facility by the Department to the residents of Ditshilo village and food security projects to a number of villages in and around the municipality on Friday, 12 April 2024.
On the day, the Department through the Accelerated Service Delivery Programme dubbed Thuntsha Lerole, planted vegetable gardens at Lomanyaneng’s Life Changing Community Feeding Center, Phakisang Primary School and at Maruping Clinic in Ottoshoop.
The officials from the Department again assisted the community of Ottoshoop to establish a community food garden. All these projects were provided with seeds and tools such as spades, forks and wheelbarrows to work their gardens.
Food security remains one of the biggest threats to various communities across the Province. The threat not only being that of access to food but access to food that is nutritious, safe, and affordable. Through the food security programme that is aimed at alleviating poverty and hunger, the DARD is working hard to assist communities to be able to produce enough food in order to meet basic household food security needs
throughout the year.
In support of emerging farmers, one farmer Mr David Molatlhegi Maape from Setlopo village, received ten (10) commercial boer goats for breeding and one (1) buck. Maape commended the work that is being done by the Department to assist smallholder farmers. “I am extremely happy to be one of many farmers that continue to receive support from the Department. I have received ten goats and a buck,” said Maape. His long term plan is to become a commercial breeder.
When handing over these projects, the Chief Director responsible for Agricultural Development Services in the Department Ms Bothoboile Pule, encouraged all beneficiaries to join the Department in fighting against hunger and poverty and encouraged them to continue working hard so that they can produce food.
“I am calling upon all beneficiaries of today’s programme to look after what the Department has given them and continue to do what they have been doing because the Province needs more producers,” Chief Director Pule expressed.
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.
