This, as Mohono says 2020 was a challenging year that was filled with efforts from the department to ensure that there is no shortage of food in the province. She explains that working hard will ensure that farmers reap the benefits in the future as well as enable them to contribute to food security in the province. 

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Mohono explains that during the outbreak of the coronavirus in South Africa, the department made efforts to ensure that there is no shortage of food in the province. She adds that to ensure food security, the department embarked on various initiatives such as providing communities with backyard gardens, amongst others. “I look back and say those were the difficult times… but as agriculture, we were there for our people,” she adds.

The MEC further says that the department’s plans for 2021 are to ensure that farmers in the province improve on what they have produced in 2020. “If you were able to produce in 10 hectares, you must be able to say for 2021 I will make sure that I produce not on 10 [hectares] but at least on 15 [hectares],” Mohono explains.

Furthermore, she adds that her department aims to ensure that land that is lying fallow are allocated to residents to ensure that these pieces of land are used for the production of food. This is “so that the North West is known as the province with plenty of food for everybody,” she concludes.

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