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The Western Cape Government wastes Billions of Rands on a meaningless Safety Plan instead of discharging its responsibilities to oversee the transformation of apartheid-imposed conditions of hopelessness on the Cape Flats, where a large proportion of the province’s citizens live.
The post GANG CULTURE WILL PERSIST TILL STATE IMPROVES CONDITIONS ON CAPE FLATS appeared first on For Good.
A 19th-century Cape Dutch homestead in Cape Town has been revived through a partnership between SAHRA and volunteers
Plan to relocate Masiphumelele families sparks concerns among residents of smallholdings
The project is one of several social enterprises run by U-turn
The Green Scorpions lack sting – especially in Kimberley. An oversight visit by the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) yesterday to the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Land Reform, prompted by issues such as the smuggling of rare plants, revealed numerous problems. The most significant issue is a critical shortage of manpower. […]
The post Green Scorpions in Kimberley lack sting appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
A new seabird nursery at SANCCOB will incubate eggs and rear orphaned and abandoned chicks
Outspoken activist died last week aged 86
Mining companies could fulfil their social obligations by investing in these projects
Lesotho Highlands aquaculture project offers little in return for its licence
Government-funded Ncera farm has battled drought and price fluctuations
Years after the City of Cape Town was ordered to clean it up, the estuary is still polluted
The Richtersveld Desert Botanical Garden is a lifeline for plants species endemic to the region
Job loss births passionate farmer
By Sihle Manda
After losing her job as a sales representative at a furniture store, Collien Khawula from the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal was forced to re-discover her passion for farming.
Despite many challenges since then, it is a decision she has yet to regret.
Khawula is the director of Tumies Enterprise, a mixed farm in Malangeni, in Umdoni Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal.
The business farms in poultry, vegetables, as well as a thriving nursery. It produces onion, carrot, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, green pepper and beetroot.
“I started in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown. I lost my job and decided to start something that didn’t require a lot of capital, as long as you have a bit of land and seeds. I wanted to be independent and not depend on others to survive,” she said.
The journey, however, has not been without its challenges. These ranged from self-doubt to a lack of financial resources.
Tumies Enterprise also had to contend with water shortages in the area.
“We need a lot of water to farm but we are struggling. It doesn’t help that we don’t have water tankers or pumps,” she said.
Despite these challenges, she is grateful for the ongoing technical assistance and training she often receives from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The Department often assists the business with ploughing implements, fencing, seeds and fertilisers.
In early 2024, she received R50 000 during an entrepreneur development programme pitching competition by Raiz Corp and Illovo Sugar, Africa's largest sugar producer.
“The money has come in handy, especially for office equipment. If you want to be professional, your paperwork needs to be in order.”
Khawula added that she has plans to apply for government support to grow her business. The business, which employs four people, supplies its produce to local restaurants and markets in the area.
She explained that she has prospects to grow her business but is unable to due to lack of space. While she has two four-hectare farms in two of her rural homes, she is unable to utilise them because it is too far from the central business district and she does not have her own transport. Instead, she farms on various smaller plots to produce her vegetables.
“My wish is to move to a bigger farm in one space. I don’t have land of my own close to the CBD so, I rely on the generosity of people to offers me parcels of land for farming,” she said.
*This article first appeared in Vuk’uzenzele
Janine
Fri, 10/25/2024 - 10:35
Agriculture dept oversees surveillance programme for African citrus greening disease
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has announced a planned surveillance programme for African citrus greening disease in and around Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.
The surveillance programme is an official process conducted to determine pest presence or absence in an area.
The planned surveillance programme follows the African strain of the disease, which was recently detected in the residential areas of Gqeberha.
African citrus greening disease is a bacterial disease of citrus trees, which is primarily spread or transmitted by the insect vector African citrus psyllid (Trioza erytreae).
The most characteristic symptoms on leaves of affected trees include blotchy mottling and yellowing of leaf veins.
The disease reduces the quality of fruit, making it unsuitable for sale as fresh fruit or for processing.
The department said during the planned surveillance programme, a delimiting survey will be administered to determine the geographic distribution of citrus greening (African strain) in the area as a basis for further consideration of whether the pest is widely distributed or not.
This is to enable the implementation of effective and efficient phytosanitary measures.
“For this survey, DALRRD will collaborate with Citrus Research International (CRI) to survey citrus trees for suspicious symptoms, and samples might be taken for laboratory analysis,” the department said in a statement.
The department has since informed nursery owners, including citrus growers and community members in and around Gqeberha, about the planned surveillance programme.
The department has urged the residents of Gqeberha and surrounding areas to cooperate with DALRRD and CRI officials, who will be working in and around their areas for surveillance activities.
Residents are also urged not to tamper with any of the department’s yellow sticky traps, as they collect valuable information.
Citrus greening is under official control in terms of the Control Measures R.110 of 27 January 1984 of the Agricultural Pests Act (APA), 1983 (Act No. 36 of 1983).
The intra-provincial movement of citrus propagation materials from infested areas to non-infested areas in the Eastern Cape is prohibited.
Infested areas include the districts of Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (Wards 1-10, 15, 16, 18, 19, 27-29, 31, 46, 47 and 50), Great Kei (Ward 1), and Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (Wards 1-15, 32 and 39).
Some of the non-infested areas include the districts of Ukhahlamba, Amathole, Chris Hani, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (wards 16-31; 33-38; 40-60) and Cacadu.
“It is against this background that nursery owners, informal traders, citrus growers and community members are encouraged not to move plants and plant propagation material from infested areas to non-infested areas, unless such movement is authorised by means of a removal permit, in terms of the Agricultural Pests Act,” the department said.
Steenhuisen to launch national food survey launch
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen will on Wednesday launch the findings of the National Food and Nutrition Security Survey (NFNSS) in Pretoria.
This after the DALRRD commissioned the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) to conduct the NFNSS between 2021 and 2023.
The survey was conducted in all nine provinces, with 10 reports produced, including one for each province and one national report.
The department said the survey’s findings offer insights into the current state of food and nutrition security in the country at the district sphere.
“The aim of the survey was to generate baseline data that government will utilise to provide targeted support interventions to households. Support to households is aimed at providing access to adequate food and nutrition towards food security,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Mon, 10/07/2024 - 11:25
Unplanned power outages plague residents and small businesses near Cape Point
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are the ‘nature reserves’ of the sea, conserving marine biodiversity to protect threatened species and ocean health. South Africa is home to some 41 MPAs which play a vital role in ocean conservation, although currently only 5% of the country’s ocean space is protected by these vital areas. In celebration of …
Robbie Gien, 36, from Fourways, Johannesburg, is set to make a profound impact with every step he takes. As a father to an amazing little boy, husband to a beautiful wife, a sales team leader at Pnet, an online recruitment platform, and an Ironman athlete since 2013 , Robbie is no stranger to pushing his …
The ‘Greatest Shoal on Earth’ is set to arrive on the KZN South Coast shores in the coming weeks, bringing with it one of the best ocean spectacles. For those who haven’t experienced the Sardine Run before, South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) has put together this ‘Sardine Run Starter Pack’ to make things …
All political parties should prioritise early childhood needs
Decorating a room is always exciting, but nothing comes quite as close as the joy of decorating a nursery. But a precious new life also comes with great responsibility, including creating a nurturing environment for the latest member of the family. There are ways to ensure this becomes a reality – one of which is …