29 Jan 2014

Kgalagadi North MP, Mr Phillip Khwae has encouraged residents of Inalegolo to regard the RADP farm in their settlement as their own.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Inalegolo, MP Khwae the residents should be grateful to government for its commitment to empowering them through the RADP farm.

As such they should also play their role in ensuring its sustainability. He said the RADP farm was another way through which government was trying to eradicate poverty particularly in settlements.

 He explained that the farm was supposed to operate commercially as a joint venture between the communities of Inalegolo and Phuduhudu.  The farm was under the care of Hukuntsi Sub-district Council through the department of Social and Community Development (S & CD).

That, he said, was because it was still new and being developed, but would be handed over to the communities once ready.

The communities would then determine the best way to use the farm for profit.  “The profits from the farm can be used to build houses for the less privileged, buy children school uniform or be used in any positive initiative that can uplift the communities. Therefore it is important to be fully hands on on the daily farm operation,” explained Mr Khwae.

Mr Khwae said it was disappointing to note that some of the community members were reluctant to volunteer their services at the farm despite the potential economic return. He said the community needed to develop the spirit of self-reliance and avoid over-reliance on government.

However, some of the residents complained of the current state of affairs at the RADP farm saying locals had not benefitted from it since it was allocated.

Mr Ditshebo Tshweege, suggested that since the farm was underutilised  it should be divided into a number of paddocks  which should then be leased out to young famers. He said some young farmers in the two settlements had had their farming business proposals rejected on the basis they did not have land. 

He said the S & CD also needed to ensure that there was adequate water within the farm before it could officially hand it over to the community.  ENDS