By Zwi Maphiri, Tshifhiwa Muifha, Tebogo Mabidilala and Maphari Machaka
As she has not yet finished her 100 days in office, the MEC for Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) Nakedi Kekana continues to meet and greet the employees at various Districts of the Province. The visits are not only meant for staff members but coupled with the visits to farming projects. Last month, she (MEC) started her meet and greet session at Sekhukhune and Capricorn Districts where she met delighted employees and foot soldiers (Extension Practitioners).
Between the 5th and 11th July, she covered Vhembe District (5 July), Mopani District (09 July) and Waterberg on the 11th. The Agricultural projects visited are amongst those funded by the Department or lent a helping hand. The funding can be in a form of infrastructure, production inputs, irrigation systems etc.
The event at Vhembe District took place at Madzivhandila College of Agriculture, Thulamela Local Municipality and after the engagements with the employees the MEC went to Vhumatshelo Project, Tshikhwani Village, Makhado Local Municipality. Here at Vhumatshelo Project, they grow vegetables inside tunnels and also practice organic farming. The project also won multiple awards in agriculture.
On the 9th of July, the MEC found herself in Giyani, Greater Giyani Local Municipality engaging with Mopani District employees where she extended her journey to Duvadzi Youth Organic Agricultural Co-op at Mbedle Village. At the Co-op she was spearheading the sod-turning and handing over of a site to the contractor. The MEC together with the Acting HoD Jethro Nowata did not waste time in turning the soil in order to symbolise and ensure that service delivery is accelerated.
The last day of meet and greet was at Modimolle Agriculture and Rural Development offices, Modimolle-Mookgopong Local Municipality, Waterberg District. After the engagements, the MEC and her entourage visited SL & Son Poultry Project near Settlers. The project specialises in rearing day-old chicks to maturity for meat production (broilers). In this project the department has funded the construction of state-of-the-art broiler poultry house which accommodates 40 000 chickens per cycle.
During her engagements, MEC Kekana reminded the team that “Limpopo remains the food basket of South Africa, with Sekhukhune where grains are in abundance; Capricorn is part of Potato belt; Vhembe and Mopani full of subtropical fruits and Waterberg leading in red meat production”. “I am looking forward to working well and have good relations with you the employees of LDARD”, concluded MEC Kekana.
