Using agriculture to bring change

KING Cetshwayo District Mayor Nonhle Mkhulisi believes the agricultural sector is crucial to radical economic transformation.

Speaking at the District Economic Symposium at ZCBF Community Park last week, she emphasised how agriculture can be a game changer in addressing the challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty.

She urged women and the youth to harness growth opportunities in this sector and praised Small Medium and Micro Entrerprises (SMME) for their role in creating opportunities and expanding economic development.

‘As large enterprises have restructured and downsized, SMMEs have come to play an increasingly important role in the country’s economy.

ALSO READ: Young girls march against women abuse in eSikhaleni

‘The government has targeted the SMME sector as an economic empowerment vehicle for previously disadvantaged people, resulting in SMMEs having received significant attention and investment, ranging from the establishment of state-initiated projects to supportive legislation, a variety of funding institutions, and government incentives through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).’

Mkhulisi also announced that the district’s fresh produce market has been selected as a pilot project for the radical agrarian socio-economic transformation model (RASET), a vehicle that will ensure meaningful participation of Power Distance Index ( PDIs) in the food value chain.

‘It is a well-known fact that the biggest industry in the King Cetshwayo district is agriculture, and for this reason we established the fresh produce market as our main vehicle for economic development.

‘There are a number of farmers in all five local municipalities who have benefitted from the project.’