
=====================================================================
Revitalising small Community Irrigation Scheme
=====================================================================

Speeches and Media Releases
 Agriculture

[         w

 MEDIA RELEASE
 17 FEBRUARY 1999
 REVITALISING SMALL COMMUNITY IRRIGATION SCHEMES

The department of Agriculture and Land Affairs encourages the revival and erection of small irrigation schemes for rural communities.

This is to ensure that farmers are able to farm even during the dry season when there is minimal rainfall.

Bilatye community was amongst the first, to benefit from this irrigation schemes revival programme which operates as an arm of our 
&#145;Operation Lima campaign.

Xonxa irrigation scheme used to belong to the then Transkei government and has since been transferred to the Bilatye community.

Eskom installed electricity that makes it possible for farmers to pump water from the nearby dam.

Out of the 3 million committed by the provincial government from the RDP fund for revitalisation of agriculture, the scheme has so far 
benefited an amount of R850 432 and this will be increased after the electricity installation costs have been calculated.

The local farmers are now farming in the scheme and have leased another piece of land to a commercial farmer.

This is major success for the department as we have committed ourselves to move out of farming but rather facilitate favourable conditions 
for sustainable farming and let farmers do the actual farming.

As infrastructure providers in terms of our social responsibility our infrastructure and engineering directorate provided the necessary 
infrastructural technical skills for the revival of the scheme.

The scheme was officially opened by the MEC for Agriculture and Land Affairs Mr. Mamase who praised the community for their commitment in 
ensuring that the scheme is operational and beneficial to the local farmers.

Ends

This Information is Attributable to the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs

For Further Information Please Contact Thembelani Stamper at (040) 6391180 or 0836598435

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Home | About the Eastern Cape | Economy
 Structures | International Relations | Documents
 Premier's Office | Speeches & Media Releases
 Top of Page

---------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Eastern Cape

Premier's Office

Structures

Documents

Speeches & Media Releases

International Relations

Economy




