Major Boost For Port Elizabeth Community Garden Projects And Emerging Farmers As The Municipality Delivers Tools

Members of Community Garden Projects and emerging farmers were given a major boost when they received agricultural material and tools from the Nelson Mandela Bay Agriculture Sub-Directorate on Friday (2 August 2013).

The tools were handed over by Economic Development, Tourism and Urban Agriculture Portfolio Chairman Babalwa Lobishe on behalf of the Executive Mayor Benson Fihla.

The tools and the material are meant to assist community garden cooperatives and emerging farmers to improve their production and output. The tools include spades, wheelbarrows, seeds and watering cans. 

The handover is part of the municipality Woman’s Month programmes. During this month of August the municipality will support and host a number of similar events and programmes that will empower woman.

The members of the projects and emerging farmer’s cooperatives are predominantly women from the previously disadvantaged communities. The Economic Development, Tourism and Urban Agriculture Directorate also assists emerging farmers and community gardens cooperatives with purchasing of land, opening markets and business skills training.

Speaking to the recipients, a visibly excited Councillor Lobishe called on the community of the Nelson Mandela Bay to participate in Agriculture. “Agriculture is the core to eradicating poverty food security. We need to inculcate a culture within our communities and the youth that Agriculture is the way to go,” said Councillor Lobishe.

“We need to liberate women and put them at the centre stage of development. This marks a great day for us as a city. Today we are here to give confidence and trust in you that what you are doing and committed to is right. We share your commitment in eradicating hunger in our communities,” said Councillor Lobishe.

She said the municipality will continue to support farmers and woman in farming by giving them support and skills development. “This must not only end in producing food, we need to grow these projects into viable businesses that will contribute to economic development and job creation,” she said.

The municipality is in a process of passing a policy that will guide the council on supporting Agricultural projects and food production. The policy is already being discussed within committees of council. The policy will guide the municipality on how to support and fund the projects on a sustainable basis.

“Agriculture is everything. Since the start of the partnership with us and the municipality we have benefited immensely. This has uplifted us and brought back our dignity. We commit to taking good care of these tools so that the municipality can have an opportunity to help others,” said one of the beneficiaries, Nomonde Ntshundwana.