By Nangamso Mabindla
27 January 2006

THE Mqokozo Agricultural and Rural Development Centre was unveiled at the East London City Hall on Thursday, 26 January. It is a Buffalo City project.

The centre has been set up to co-ordinate all activities that are essential to establishing a favourable environment for commercialised farming operations; to assist the development of small-scale farmers; and to assist entrepreneurial development in Buffalo City.

All stakeholders were invited to the unveiling of Mqokozo, including speakers from the national Department of Trade and Industry, the Umsombomvu Youth Fund, the provincial department of agriculture and other partners.

Councillor Luntu Bobo said Mqokozo, an isiXhosa word for a chain, would set up a chain of opportunities and activities for empowering black people through agriculture and farming. "With Mqokozo we would like to be more involved in agriculture for the benefit of our people. Agriculture is one of the main weapons we aim to use in the fight against poverty."

Bobo said the city had huge agricultural potential and urged people to use the opportunities presented by the sector. There were opportunities in livestock farming, dairy, macadamia nuts, tunnel farming and poultry.

"We have the Balasi ladies doing poultry farming and we also have a project up in Ncera aimed at exporting macadamia nuts."

Turning his attention to the centre, Bobo said it was essential because there was no municipal-driven strategy for local empowerment of agriculture. Through the centre, there would be a focus on activities that would enhance the contribution of agriculture to the economic development of the municipality.

Cheryl Boqwana from the provincial department of agriculture congratulated the City on the initiative, saying it would assist in the creation of a professional atmosphere in the farming sector.

"The department of agriculture is also involved in initiatives aimed at developing the sector in our province. We are happy to know that with a centre of this nature our farmers will operate in a professional environment."

Boqwana said the centre would also assist in making co-operatives more professional.

The centre's location was also important and the municipality had decided to establish it in Fort Jackson. Bobo said the area was central and would service urban and rural citizens of the city.

"We also chose it because of its proximity to the targeted communities and the existence of infrastructure to house [small, medium and micro enterprise] activities."