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ZIWAPHI • VOL 4 NO 11 • 21 - 27 May 2010

NELSPRUIT

The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration in Mpumalanga has allocated R351-million to support emerging farmers and help land reform farms to become sustainable in the new financial year.

Tabling his department’s R737.9-million budget speech on Friday, MEC Meshack Malinga said people had voiced their concern about the failing land reform programme and the need for the government to support emerging farmers.

“Through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the newly introduced Recapitalisation and Development Programme from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, my department will continue revitalising irrigation schemes in Spoons 8, Magudu and Sibange in support of the sustainable development of the sugarcane industry in the Nkomazi area,”said Malinga._He said Coromandel farm in Dullstroom and Champaigne in Bushbuckridge, both land-reform farms, would be revitalised this financial year.

“The Mbuzini area will also be afforded an opportunity to store and process their maize locally through the establishment of a maize silo and mill. Through a partnership with the private sector, the department will be implementing an integrated poultry project whereby Amersfoort in Ermelo will be a processing point for production from Pixley ka Seme, Mkhondo, Lekwa and Msugalikwa municipalities,” he added.

Malinga said considering the magnitude of the Fifa World Cup, which will bring many international visitors to South African shores, the department would be particularly vigilant and conduct numerous surveys, investigations and inspections to ensure that no new and emerging animal diseases inadvertently entered the country.