THE FUSE

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Mrs Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa visited Impendle outside Pietermaritzburg to assess agricultural projects supported through funding from her department. The visit focused on projects involving a young farmer and a community farming cooperative that have received assistance to strengthen their agricultural operations. The MEC’s programme provided an opportunity to see how departmental funding and agricultural support are being used on the ground. It also highlighted the role of government assistance in helping farmers establish productive enterprises and improve their access to agricultural infrastructure. The projects in Impendle demonstrate how targeted support can contribute to vegetable production, crop farming and rural economic activity.