18/05/2023
The Agriculture and Rural Development Portfolio Committee held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, 16 May 2023, in Umhlabuyalingana Municipality ahead of its oversight visit over two projects in the area on Wednesday, 17 May 2023. Members of the Committee received reports and engaged officials of the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZN-DARD) on the Makhathini Irrigation Scheme, the Department of Agriculture, 4th Quarter Performance Report Analysis, the progress report on the Agri-Hubs Programme, the 2022/23 Budget Performance of ADA and the KZN DARD Red Meat Interventions.
“We look forward to conduct oversight over the Coastal cashew nut farm in ward 16 of Umhlabuyalingana Municipality and the tilapia farm close to the Kosi Bay border post. These government led projects are located in one of the most rural parts of our province and prove that people who are given opportunities and empowered with skills are ready to grasp the nettle to improve their own lives and that of their families fulfilling promises made by the government to improve the quality of life of all its people focussing on the poor and marginalised.” said Chairperson Ntombikayise Sibhidla. On Wednesday, 17 May 2023, Members of the Committee will be accompanied by senior officials of the Department to conduct oversight over a 1000ha farm, the Coastal Cashews Co-operative and a containerised fish farm for growing, processing and distribution of Tilapia fish.
The cashew nuts farm with 630ha under cashews, owned by 244 members of the community, requires upgrading of the farm, production inputs, irrigation system and fencing of 1000ha is located in ward 16, Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipality in UMkhanyakude District. The fish farm aims to promote Agro-Tourism, provide food security, Create jobs and alleviate poverty in the area focusing on women and youth and to increase awareness and participation in aqua-interpreted aquaculture and eliminate the issue of poaching.
In a case of sour grapes, a project commissioned to develop a vineyard turned out to be a vehicle where taxpayers were swindled out of in excess of R61M. The Committee received reports by officials involved in the project focusing on what systems of control were in place to monitor the viability and implementation of the project and why any corruption was not picked up on earlier. The Committee resolved to request the Speaker to inform the Premier and Treasury to investigate further into the matter and report back to the Committee by the end of July 2023. Members of the committee stressed the impact the failure of this initiative had on the lives of citizens of Okhahlamba and were unanimous in committing itself to ensuring the culprits be brought to book and welcomed the Okhahlamaba Municipality’s initiative to salvage capital inputs and repurpose the farm in favour of growing cannabis. Over and above just planting and growing, the cannabis project seeks to establish viable medicinal h**p & cannabis enterprises owned by the local communities will manufacture a wide range of end user products.
