MEC: Where there’s a will there’s a way

AGRICULTURE and rural development MEC Joyce Matshoge is prepared to do anything within her power to ensure that all Limpopo farmers’ problems are resolved.

Matshoge spoke during a concern-raising session as part of an agricultural and farming information festival held by the department of agriculture and rural development at Bolivia Lodge last Tuesday.

“Where there is a will, there is a way,” she said, committing herself to helping the farming community where she could.

Matshoge listened to hundreds of concerns raised by farmers and other farming stakeholders who had packed the venue to capacity.

She spent most of the time listening rather than speaking, and was optimistic when responding to some of the matters raised, saying that many of these would be possible to deal with provided government and other stakeholders played their roles accordingly.

Several attendees were of the opinion that Matshoge would be an MEC who would make things happen faster than usual.

Matshoge discourage land claimants from simply grabbing land.

She commented that the land belonged to everyone, including whoever it was claimed from and that farming skills was a necessity.

She said Limpopo was the country’s fifth largest province in terms of geographical space, being around 124 000km².

She said an estimated 88,2% constituted farmland, with 14,7% being arable land used to develop agriculture in the former homelands, while 14% was used for commercial agricultural activity.

“Our province is synonymous with fruit and vegetable farming,” the MEC said.

“We need to explore ways and means of how to exchange ideas on removing racism as a factor in the rural economy, as well as the creation of vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities contributing to food security for all.”