In her ongoing efforts to address food insecurity among impoverished households and institutions throughout KwaZulu-Natal, the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms. Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, urged church leaders to encourage their members to participate in agricultural activities to feed their families and establish agri-businesses. kaMadlopha-Mthethwa made these remarks at a Business Seminar held at Christian Fellowship Centre International Church in Ncotshane, Pongola on Saturday 05 July 2025, as part of the poverty alleviation programme aimed at addressing basic food shortages.

kaMadlopha-Mthethwa distributed thousands of seedlings, encouraging congregants to cultivate the yards at their churches and home gardens. The seedlings included spinach (2000), cabbage (3000), green paper (10,000) and onion (10,000).

"We have expanded our One Home One Garden programme to also include churches and government institutions like schools, hospitals and clinics, ensuring food security in households and in their everyday situations. We will support them by providing seeds and seedlings to make their yards green. Today's primary objective was to encourage congregants to establish agricultural businesses. We also offer assistance with poultry, cattle, goats and other farming activities."

"I am encouraging our communities to attend agricultural workshops, which will further equip them with skills to manage their poultry and other farming businesses. Communities and congregants can also seize opportunities and funding through government grants that are made available by the Office of the Premier - Youth and Women Fund, Agribusiness Development Agency and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development project funding which will soon be advertised publicly," MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said.

kaMadlopha-Mthethwa expressed gratitude to the business seminar organisers for equipping congregants with valuable knowledge to initiate agricultural businesses.