KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube has unveiled the Multi-Planting Season Programme, which aims to provide necessary assistance to underprivileged farmers, who are mainly based in rural and underdeveloped areas.
Tuesday’s event took place in Ward 8, at uMuziwabantu Local Municipality under the uGu District.
This initiative, a brainchild of the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, supports small scale farmers and communities to improve food security and ward off hunger.
In her speech, the Premier stressed that there is a need to focus on youth and women in agriculture, because they make up the majority of the population.
“We are proud of the young people who, through the Provincial Youth Fund, are already playing a significant role in the agricultural space and helping our province create much-needed jobs,” Dube-Ncube said, urging more female entrepreneurs to take advantage of the entire agriculture value chain, including agro-processing.
According to a recent report by African Union Development Agency, agribusiness remains central to food security, job creation, and inclusive growth in many low-income countries.
It provides decent employment and incomes for women and youth in agribusiness, which then have an important spillover effect on economic and social development outcomes.
The report, entitled ‘Breaking Barriers: Women and Youth in Agribusiness‘, also points out that with the right working conditions and remuneration, agricultural employment could help to create a platform from which more favourable outcomes for women and youth can be realised.
Dube-Ncube said women and youth play a crucial role in the agribusiness sector across the globe, adding that agriculture is an important source of employment for women and the rising youth population in Africa.