BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A NEW farmers’ market has been opened for smallholder farmers in the Mogwase area.

  The new market helps farmers showcase their produce and sell directly to clients.

It comes after similar markets were established in other parts of the province to give farmers exposure to the business side of their enterprises.

  Rural, environment and agricultural development (READ) department head Dr Poncho Mokaila said that the initiative came about as a support system for small farmers.

He said this was the third one in the province after two were launched recently in Mahikeng and Taung respectively.

He pointed out that the department partnered with the North West Development Corporation and the North West University Mafikeng campus in rolling out the farmers’ markets.

“The establishment of the farmers’ market is vital. This will assist in existence of the small hold producers. The initiative will benefit largely as the farmers will bring their products direct to the public. Consequently this would further reduce and eliminate middlemen as the produce will directly be sold to the consumers. The consumers will also safe money from travelling expenses,” he said.

  Mokaila added that the occasion accentuated the North West provincial government’s agriculture, culture and tourism (ACT) strategy. He said the agriculture is at the apex of the province economic drive.

“Agriculture has been elevated to such status. So it is equally important that the department assist farmers create avenues. Farmers’ market also put farmers in a pole position as they will benefit from profound sustainable incomes,” he said.

The head of department pointed out that the department offered training and workshops for small farmers to be made sure sustainability prevails. He said that small farmers contributed significantly to the economy of the province.

A local farmer, Kerotse Lekabe from Phela village said: “On behalf of farmers here in Mogwase, we want to applaud the department of READ for their effort. This will ease the challenges we come across as farmers. It has been difficult year for us and we believe this will help. The transportation was always an issue for us. Now it will be easy for consumers to access our products.”

-TDN

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