Around R5.5 million in financial aid has been issued by the eThekwini Municipality to 35 local small farmers within the last financial year.
According to Economic Development and Planning deputy city manager, Phillip Sithole, this was undertaken through the city’s Radical Agrarian Socio-Economic Transformation programme which is part of government’s efforts to break down barriers in the food value chain.
“These enterprises play a significant role in growing the local economy to attract global investors,” said Economic Development and Planning Committee chief whip, councillor Busi Ndlovu. “Through small businesses we are able to unlock economic opportunities by creating employment and growing the sector.”
Sithole went on to encourage small businesses and smallholder farmers to register on the city’s database to have access to opportunities such as the R30 billion in tenders that the municipality spends annually.
