Recently the Limpopo Department of Land Agriculture and Rural Development facilitated a series of campaigns through farmers’ days and information sessions around villages where stakeholders and role players came together to discuss issues affecting village maize producers. Role players included production input suppliers, seed company producers, local business people, milling companies as well as tractor contractors who are hired to prepare the land for planting, among others.

“The exercise was mainly motivated by the fact that village grain producers are largely elderly people and the silent majority in the farming sector. They seem to be left out of the process to improved production practices,” said Lillian Maake, an extension officer from the department during a farmers’ day which was recently held recently in Gavaza village. “That is partly due to the long distance that maize farmers have to travel for purchases required for production.

“Also contributing to the problem are role players along the chain without concern for the well-being of the other enterprises. To harmonise the situation, we have embarked on a programme to ensure that village developments are approached in an integrated manner,” said Maake. Similar events were held at Julesburg in Tzaneen, Moshate, Hlohlokwe, Madeira in the Maruleng municipal area with the Sekororo Traditional Authority as well as Ramodumo within the Greater Letaba jurisdiction boundaries.

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Bennett Mkhavele of the Nkuna Traditional Authority in Mhangweni village said the initiative was successful as it gave farmers the guarantee that they can proceed unhindered. “As much as the department is a primary custodian of sustainable food production, we strongly advise that to continue, land should be acquired through recognised channels,” said Portia Mudau, of the natural resource management division of the provincial department.

“As we face this daunting situation, we should do so with acceptable social and natural resources. “Indeed it is ‘our elephant’, and it needs our undivided effort and commitment,” Mudau told farmers in Ribungwana village.