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“Let the rivers flow and where they go, your sorrows will follow” these are words once shared by a wise man to his community. This was exactly the case in eMadungeni, iXopo on 05 April 2016 when MEC for KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture and Rural Development Mr Cyril Xaba, officially launched three boreholes in Sigubudwini, Sidwadweni and at Khuluma Primary School. Two of the drilled boreholes in the communal areas are driven by diesel engines and Eskom electricity drives the third one based at Khuluma Primary School. The drilling and installation of the said boreholes is going to support over 100 families in the area at a total cost of R600 000.

MEC Xaba, speaking at the launch of the borehole based at Khuluma Primary School, said “Drought has been a major challenge and a hindrance of development and service delivery in our Province, it is for us as Government holding hands with our communities and stakeholders to mitigate the scourge of this natural disaster. I once again want to reiterate that the future of the agricultural sector rest in the hands of the youth and today, I launch a borehole at a school nurturing the development of that youth.

A step at a time we are realizing the growth of the sector through focused service delivery”. Subsequent to the launch of the boreholes, MEC Xaba met with the communal and commercial farmers, business sector and other relevant stakeholders of Harry Gwala District to unpack the Departmental plans on the Texas Valley model as per the Agrarian Reform Strategy in iXopo.

The department has identified 21 farm portions at approximately 4300ha each for development in the area. Of this land, 230ha has been earmarked for the development of a dairy project that will see Harry Gwala District become the hub of milk production in the Province. The department plans to invest about R19 789 277.00 in the project to see it as a success.

Issued by Department of Agriculture and Rural Development KwaZulu-Natal