10 Nov 2021

Members of Molalatau cluster garden have told assistant minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu that they need material support to stand on their feet.

Chief among their needs is a tractor because sourcing them from owners badly affected their produce.

They also requested that they be assisted with a vehicle, to ferry their produce to the market whenever ready since relying on hired transport rendered them uncompetitive in the market.

Farmers stated that those with transport beat them for time and swamped the market while they waited their turn to be assisted at a time when transport owners could slot them in.

In addition to the tractor and a vehicle, the beneficiaries requested to be built a produce storage facility at the over five hectare garden.

Speaking through their representative, Mr Win Rakgetsana, who has been a constant feature since the start of the garden in 2017, the current five members told Mr Mthimkhulu that they faced market challenges since they competed with established farmers who have experience and technical know-how.

Mr Rakgetsana said that despite the garden having potential, some members lacked the patience to see the project blossom hence left to pursue other opportunities.

However, Mr Rakgetsana told the assistant minister that the current crop of members were a committed lot that needed support to take the Nyeletso Lehuma funded project to greater heights.

For his part, Mr Mthimkhulu praised the members for their commitment and reminded them that it would take some time before they could realise their dreams.

He noted that the current members had potential to do well when supported. Consequently, the assistant minister called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to help members with a tractor whenever they needed to plant.

Without brushing aside the challenges, Mr Mthimkhulu said that time was ripe for the members to work hard and render the garden self-sustaining. ENDS