By Nangamso Mabindla
11 April 2008

SOUTH Africa cannot fight poverty without promoting agriculture. This was the message delivered by Councillor Fudukile Mbovane at the first inter-municipal agriculture and garden show held at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on 10 April.

"We need to teach this generation that agriculture is the way we used to live back in the day. I am so happy with what I am seeing here today, particularly organic farming. This show has taught me that we cannot fight poverty without promoting agriculture," said Mbovane.

According to Mbovane, people need to be exposed to agriculture and reminded that they can make a living out of the industry. "We need to move away from saying we are not getting employment; we need to use the land available to us and start selling the produce from that land. This show has proved to me that there are many people who can make this work," said Mbovane.

He also encouraged farmers to make their concerns known during the integrated development planning and budget public hearing process this month. "The farmers need to ensure that they don't miss out on this process. They need to let us know how we can assist them."

The show was organised by Buffalo City in partnership with the Provincial Department of Agriculture. Municipalities taking part included Buffalo City, Mbhashe, Ngqushwa, Great Kei and Nkonkobe. The University of Fort Hare and other farmers' organisations also exhibited their products at the show.

Buffalo City's programme manager for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembakazi Nqodi, said that one of the aims of the show was to promote agriculture in Buffalo City. "We want to improve the standard of agriculture, especially organic farming, in Buffalo City. In previous years we hosted the annual garden competition for Mdantsane organic farmers, but this year we thought we would invite other farmers within the municipality; these were supported by other municipalities and showcased their products here at the show," said Nqodi

She said the inaugural show was a success and that they planned to make it an annual event.