The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture has allocated over R600 million to provide tools aimed at improving labour efficiency, increasing agricultural productivity, and supporting value addition at household level.
Delivering the department’s 2026/27 Policy Speech at the Provincial Legislature on Wednesday, MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe said the Ilima Lokulima Programme remains a key strategy to address food insecurity in the province.
The MEC highlighted that the programme has already supported more than 33 000 households to produce their own food during the 2025/26 financial year. In the 2026/27 financial year, the department plans to expand this support to 35 000 households, with a budget of R65 million.
She noted that the department has strengthened partnerships with the Departments of Education and Social Development, as well as organisations such as Oxfam, Farmers Network South Africa, the Graca Machel Foundation, Meals on Wheels, and Walter Sisulu University, among others, to enhance community-based food production.
As part of these efforts, the department is collaborating with the Department of Education to expand agricultural production across 1 930 schools through the establishment of school gardens.
“This effort aims to strengthen local food production and enhance nutrition for learners and the surrounding communities,” Kontsiwe said.
In addition, nine Climate Smart Tunnels will be rolled out across all districts to support community food production and improve resilience against climate-related challenges.
“These combined initiatives are helping to establish sustainable community food systems and promote food sovereignty throughout the province,” she said.
To further scale up the Ilima Lokulima Programme, the department will procure 50 hand-held tractors with a budget of R3 million to support small-scale producers.
The provincial department will also expand its Spring Water Protection Programme, as a key mechanism to address water scarcity for sustainable agricultural production. A total of R9.6 million has been allocated to protect 13 additional springs in water-stressed districts.
Kontsiwe said the intervention aims to provide reliable irrigation water access to communities, strengthen household resilience, and expand local food availability year-round.
“This initiative not only enhances water access but also establishes a solid foundation for consistent household food production and improved livelihoods,” Kontsiwe said.