Zululand district and UKZN to promote agriculture

PLANS to uplift agriculture and rural development in the Zululand district received an official seal of approval last Thursday when the district municipality and the University of KwaZulu-Natal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The aim is to utilise existing agricultural infrastructure, farming resources and materials for the benefit of beneficiaries of rural development programmes within the Zululand District Municipality (ZDM).

The MoU also intends to facilitate the exchange of scientific and technical information.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, head of UKZN’s food security programme, Prof Maxwell Mudhara, said, ‘It is important for the university to have a direct positive impact in KZN,’ adding that his institution will conduct research to gather indigenous agricultural knowledge in Zululand that will assist not only the people of ZDM in terms of farming and producing medicine, but to ‘change the lives of millions of people’.

ZDM Mayor Thulasizwe Buthelezi said the MoU would develop three key areas – education, access to markets and food security.

‘With the state of our economy, it is not possible for everyone to be employed in the formal sector.

‘ZDM has a problem with poverty and through the MoU our communities will gain skills to be able to produce their own food.

‘The district has set aside R3-million for the purchase of seeds to assist with this programme.

‘The MoU will also help ZDM’s emerging farmers to have adequate access to markets.

‘The partnership will further afford our youth an opportunity to study at UKZN, and they will return to Zululand to transfer their knowledge to the community.

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