By Tabisa Mntengwana
June 08, 2009

IN its efforts to enhance rural economic development, Buffalo City officially handed over three tractors to farming co-operatives.

The City’s local economic development, tourism and rural development department identified three areas - Needs Camp, Yellowwoods Kei Road and Mount Coke Dimbaza development zones - where agricultural co-operatives worked in partnership with the Department of Agriculture.

Needs Camp Farmers’ Association, Majali Farmers’ Association and Tyusha Massive Food Project, the co-ops will help other aspiring farmers in their villages.

Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku handed over the tractor to the Needs Camp farmers, at the community hall.

“This is the beginning of great things to come,” she said. “The tractors are handed over to encourage aspiring and established farmers to be strong and work hard in achieving their goals.”

Most farmers wanted to sell their produce to the Buffalo City Fruit and Vegetable Market “and as the City we want to see that happen. We also want to see some of your produce being exported to other countries.”

Faku encouraged the farmers to work together in building the projects.

Speaking about the objectives behind the gifts of tractors, Vuyani Mbata, the general manager in the local economic development, tourism and rural development department, said: “These trucks are part of the City’s plan to eradicate poverty and encourage people to take the initiative and be creative.”

And then it was time for the farmers themselves to speak. Words of thanks came from Fanisile Ngesi, the chairperson of Needs Camp Farmers’ Association, who said that the tractor would help farmers reach their objectives.

“We struggle so much as farmers in this area but with the tractor now our problems will lessen.”

Speaking at Yellowwoods Kei Road on Thursday, 4 June, Sithembiso Tyilo, the portfolio head of local economic development, tourism and rural development, said: “Most farmers in this area concentrate on cattle farming and the City encourages these farmers to cross breed with other farmers.”

He also encouraged the Tyusha Massive Food Project to use the tractor to expand their production, including increasing the range of produce they grew.

The Tyusha Massive Food Project mostly produces tomatoes, spinach and cabbage.

The tractors each came with a disk plough offset, a three-furrow plough, a trailer, a fertilizer spreader, a two-row planer, and a spare wheel.

Giving his closing remarks, Mbata said the City would have an aftercare programme, “where [it] will come back after a few months to monitor the projects”.