Hanover subsistence farmer David Ngethu did not think he was being unreasonable when he asked government for help to fix his leaking dam wall, buy a new tractor and acquire a bull to grow his herd of cattle.
On a visit to his farm, Ngethu said: “If government helps me, I can make a difference for young people in Hanover. I could employ up to 10 people on my land.”
Ngethu had always wanted to be a farmer and bought 11 hectares of land with the assistance of the department of land affairs in 2002.
He has had remarkable success, planting crops such as cabbage, maize and potatoes, growing his herd to 26 animals from an initial three “loan” cows, and selling surplus food at markets in King William’s Town.
But he says his efforts to grow his meagre operation beyond merely sustaining his family have been stymied by officials of the provincial Department of Rural Development and Land Affairs.
Among the department’s interventions was a supply of potato seeds in June 2013, which arrived too late in the planting season.
“They gave seeds to all the farmers in the area but none of us got any potatoes from planting those seeds. was burnt by frost.”
On the advice of officials themselves, Ngethu applied almost two years ago for financial assistance from the department and submitted a business plan and relevant documents, but since then has not heard a word from officials in Zwelitsha.
The broken dam wall and veld fires have played havoc with grazing, as well as crop growing.
Among his losses were three pregnant cows that died because he could not feed them.
However, the department says it was shocked at Ngethu’s complaint.
Apart from the potato seeds, it said Ngethu received two 50kg rolls of barbed wire, “assorted vegetable seedlings and seeds”, 20 bags of fertiliser, technical advice from extension officers, and assistance in drafting business plans for further support.
This month, it said Ngethu had received a few hundred seedlings to grow cabbage, spinach, beetroot, tomatoes and onions.
Apart from the fertilizer, Ngethu said it was an outright “lie” that the department had provided any other items. Nor had they drafted his application.
Department spokesman Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha said the department did not buy tractors for individual farmers.
“Had communicated with the department in good spirit, we could have him the tractor for the services he needs for a short time,” he said — rayh@dispatch.co.za
Farmer says pleas ‘ignored’
On a visit to his farm, Ngethu said: “If government helps me, I can make a difference for young people in Hanover. I could employ up to 10 people on my land.”
Ngethu had always wanted to be a farmer and bought 11 hectares of land with the assistance of the department of land affairs in 2002.
He has had remarkable success, planting crops such as cabbage, maize and potatoes, growing his herd to 26 animals from an initial three “loan” cows, and selling surplus food at markets in King William’s Town.
But he says his efforts to grow his meagre operation beyond merely sustaining his family have been stymied by officials of the provincial Department of Rural Development and Land Affairs.
Among the department’s interventions was a supply of potato seeds in June 2013, which arrived too late in the planting season.
“They gave seeds to all the farmers in the area but none of us got any potatoes from planting those seeds. was burnt by frost.”
On the advice of officials themselves, Ngethu applied almost two years ago for financial assistance from the department and submitted a business plan and relevant documents, but since then has not heard a word from officials in Zwelitsha.
The broken dam wall and veld fires have played havoc with grazing, as well as crop growing.
Among his losses were three pregnant cows that died because he could not feed them.
However, the department says it was shocked at Ngethu’s complaint.
Apart from the potato seeds, it said Ngethu received two 50kg rolls of barbed wire, “assorted vegetable seedlings and seeds”, 20 bags of fertiliser, technical advice from extension officers, and assistance in drafting business plans for further support.
This month, it said Ngethu had received a few hundred seedlings to grow cabbage, spinach, beetroot, tomatoes and onions.
Apart from the fertilizer, Ngethu said it was an outright “lie” that the department had provided any other items. Nor had they drafted his application.
Department spokesman Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha said the department did not buy tractors for individual farmers.
“Had communicated with the department in good spirit, we could have him the tractor for the services he needs for a short time,” he said — rayh@dispatch.co.za
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