This is according to provincial Premier, Sisi Ntombela, during her visit to the farming town of Boshoff in the Tokologo Local Municipality.

Ntombela was accompanied by the MEC of Agriculture, Thembeni Nxangisa, where the Free State government was hosting Provincial World Food Day under the theme "Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow".

In her statement, Ntombela said their duty as provincial government is to ensure that they empower people to produce their own food. She explained that by doing so, they will strengthen the economy, reduce poverty, and get the province back to being the food basket of the country.

Ntombela added the provincial government has made serious efforts to coordinate farmers across all districts to ensure that they play an important role in food security, in line with Section 27 subsection C of the constitution.

She also adds that their primary focus as the province is to invest in agriculture, to create access to land, and to provide skills to existing and aspiring farmers so that economic growth translates into jobs for the people.

“The province has a pool of farmers and the provincial government has made strides in empowering them - particularly young, small scale, and commercial farmers - to break into the commercial space,” she said.

Ntombela further said that the agriculture grant must respond to the needs of farmers and ensure no money is left unused while famers need it.

OFM News