Caption: DARDLEA HOD, Cain Chunda, addressing the Land Bank team during the meeting
By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane
The Head of Department(HOD), Cain Chunda, from Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs(DARDLEA), recently hosted a team from the Land Bank led by Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Themba Rikhotso, during a visit to the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market(MIFPM).
According to a statement by DARDLEA, the Department is racing against time for the long-awaited opening of the MIFPM before the end of this year.
The meeting by DARDLEA and Land Bank was reportedly the first and aimed at paving a way for working relations between DARDLEA, Land Bank and the appointed Operator in the ultimate quest to benefit farmers in Mpumalanga.
“ Mr Rikhotso spoke passionately about options that are available for farmers at Land Bank. He committed his bank to the partnership, adding that all teams involved must work with speed to cement the collaboration and help farmers. Rikhotso hailed the Provincial Government for the state-of-the-art facility, saying it’ll be a catalyst for change in the Agriculture sector, ” said DARDLEA.
The Land Bank team was reportedly taken on a walk-about at the MIFPM, followed by an excursion to the nearby Matsafeni Communal Property Association(CPA)for a first-hand account on the scale of the operations, markets and challenges.
