PHOTO: Steven Makhanya
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma congratulated uThungulu District for providing its small scale farmers with a market where to sell their produce.
The hundreds who gathered at the opening of the uThungulu Fresh Produce Market at Empangeni Rail on Tuesday, ululated and danced as they celebrated the milestone opening of the venture which will ensure small scale farmers have a venue to sell their produce.
At the opening, Zuma congratulated the farmers, ‘I’ve never seen so much food produced by our people to feed their own brethren.
‘I’m happy to see even the young people getting involved in farming, which assures us of a sustainable future for our young people, as they will be able to grow food for themselves.
‘Let’s stop relying on the supermarkets, and plant food for ourselves.’
Fresh produce like bananas, spinach, cabbages, oranges and other foods lined the warehouse.
‘Our soil is so fertile there is no excuse why we can’t use it to plant our own food,’ Zuma said.
Mayor of uThungulu, Thembeka Mchunu said, ‘All six of our local municipalities are involved in the scheme, which is part entity of the district municipality- of which farmers own 49% and the district 51%.
‘We, therefore, want to encourage all emerging farmers to be part of the co-operatives which ensure such good food is produced for our people- hence, as the district municipality, we have put aside an amount of R11-million to support them.’
The scheme was also heralded as a job creation initiative.
