MEC promises to make unannounced visits to farms for inspection
MEC Shongwe also urged smallholder and commercial farmers to make sure that their workers are supplied with safety material
Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs MEC Vusi Shongwe visited state-owned farms to inspect and to make sure that farmworkers were adhering to safety requirements in light of the spreading coronavirus.
To his dismay, most farmworkers were not thoroughly informed about the dangers posed by the virus.
MEC Shongwe who was accompanied by department managers took workers through basic steps to protect themselves against the possible spread of the virus.
He supplied workers with gloves, masks and sanitizers.
“You must wear gloves, cover your mouths with these masks, and wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds. Always when you working among yourselves keep at least a meter away from each other,” he advised.
Shongwe delivered enough protective gloves, masks, and sanitizers to last workers until the end of the lockdown period.
He emphasised that the department was classified as an essential service because food production cannot be postponed.
“It is our duty to produce and feed the nation. Production in farms cannot stop, but we must be safe as we produce food for communities,” he said.
MEC Shongwe also urged smallholder and commercial farmers to make sure that their workers are supplied with safety material.
“We should not underestimate the dangers posed by this virus, should workers get infected it could also affect the very same products they are working with. The safety of workers on farms should be a priority to all of us,” he said.
Shongwe promised to make regular unannounced visits to farms for inspection.
