MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG: The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has taken significant steps to combat food insecurity in the region. Through its Provincial Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, Thuntsha Lerole, the department delivered agricultural support to communities in Matlosana.
This initiative included handing over garden equipment to the Jouberton community food garden volunteers, enabling local growers to boost production and yields.
Additionally, departmental extension officers conducted a live demonstration on transplanting seedlings at Ithuseng Primary School, teaching learners, teachers and residents the essential techniques for soil preparation, spacing and watering. To further support household food security, the department distributed vegetable starter packages to 30 residents from Jouberton, Alabama and surrounding areas. Each package included seedlings, wheelbarrows and basic inputs to establish or expand productive backyard gardens. A military veteran in Sunnyside, Jouberton, also received a goat starter herd consisting of ten breeding does and one buck, laying the foundation for a sustainable enterprise that can generate food and income.
According to Head of Department, Thupi Mokhatla, these efforts aim to empower communities to grow their own food, create income streams and build resilience against hunger.
The Thuntsha Lerole programme seeks to accelerate service delivery and mobilize citizens to participate in their own development, ultimately restoring dignity and promoting agriculture as a key driver of economic growth in the province. Similar interventions are set to be rolled out in other districts to strengthen household nutrition, support smallholder farmers and stimulate local economies.
