Vryheid’s emerging farmers get new tractor after showing they are serious about farming

ON a mission to alleviate poverty in the rural parts of Vryheid, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform handed over a tractor to Ward 17.

As part of the department’s ‘One family, one hectare’ program, they sought out cooperatives within the rural areas that were trying to make ends meet for themselves and their families through agriculture.

Being a community that mostly depends on farming vegetables on a subsistence as well as commercial basis, the community of Ward 17 were among the first people to benefit.

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Speaking on behalf of the Hlahlindlela community, which falls under the Mvuzini area in Mondlo, ward councillor, Tholile Khumalo, said that they as a community were welcoming the assistance with open arms.

“This past year, many of our community members were able to plant enough mielies to produce enough maize for them to see them through the winter right up until next planting season. They were also able to sell some of their crops and make a bit of an income. You can see for yourselves that ours is a community that is very serious about farming.”