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Female farmer praises government for support

Louisa Maloka-Mogotsi (64), a trained social worker turned farmer, is one of the success stories to come from the stakeholder engagements held recently in the Bojanala District in the North West by the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Desbo Mohono.

Maloka-Mogotsi is a citrus farmer from Mooinooi who received assistance from the department in 2016 to acquire a 66-hectare farm. Today, she exports her produce – several orange varieties and Lisbon lemons – to the Middle East and Russia.

Vets to service North West communities

The North West has gained nine new graduate veterinarians, who will be assisting communities in the prevention of disease, animal treatment and livestock production education while also gaining experience in the animal health sector.

“These new appointees are coming at an interesting time because the province has had its first outbreak of foot and mouth disease, which will give them exposure to disease control and management,” said the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Veterinary Services Director Dr Langa Madyibi.

Flood relief for KZN and E Cape

Government will help residents of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape rebuild their lives and homes after floods recently left a trail of death and destruction in the two provinces.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said National Treasury will make money available for relief efforts to help those affected by the floods.

“The Minister of Finance has said that R1 billion is immediately available,” he said.

President Ramaphosa will also approach Parliament for additional resources.

Public urged to report brown locust sightings

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza has called on the public to alert the department’s nearest district offices when they spot brown locusts.

 Minister Didiza said South Africa is experiencing an outbreak of brown locust in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape since September 2021.

The outbreak tends to escalate due to the amount of rainfall received, and this has resulted in the development of more locusts.

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