THE FUSE

The start of a new planting season brings renewed opportunities for farmers to strengthen agricultural production, improve household food security and contribute to rural economic development. In the Eastern Cape, preparing farmers for the cropping season is an important part of building a resilient agricultural sector that can respond to changing weather conditions and growing food demands. The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting farmers through the official launch of the 2026/27 Cropping Season in Ngcobo. The launch was led by the MEC for Agriculture, Nonceba Kontsiwe, at Lucwecwe Village in the Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The event highlighted the importance of climate-smart agriculture, farmer preparedness and sustainable production systems in strengthening food security and supporting agricultural development across the province.