KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has urged for an aggressive mobilisation of people to adopt farming as means of addressing food insecurity and alleviating poverty. Ntuli and the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, were government dignitaries leading the Provincial Multi-Planting Season Launch on Friday, 10 October 2025 at eNhlanhleni in Underberg under the Harry Gwala District Municipality.

The programme is part of a response to a concerning report from the General Household Survey (GHS) which revealed that KwaZulu-Natal has the highest number of households with inadequate access to food. The National Development Plan identifies agriculture as a key economic activity capable of reducing poverty. According to the General Household Survey (GHS) in 2021 in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, a total of 14.2% of households had inadequate and 6.7% had severely inadequate food access. The GHS report for 2024 shows that there are a total of 15.5% of households that have inadequate access to food and 8.4% that have severely inadequate food access. This shows regression in the number of households that have access to food.

The Premier unveiled 24 new tractors belonging to the state, aimed at supporting farmers in KwaZulu-Natal and announced a new seed multiplication programme to be distributed throughout the province. The Department, through its research stations located across the province, produces 10 million seedlings a year. Over 150 vehicles have been provided to extension officers to ensure they can reach every corner of the province.

"Let's utilise our frontline services in the form of Extension Officers to encourage people to farm from their Ward level and launch the Multi-Planting Season and reignite the love of agriculture. Unannounced visits will be conducted to check if directives are being followed. We are mobilising every sector for farming, as this seriously addresses food insecurity. Let's ensure every corner of the province is surrounded by lush crops and vegetables," said the Premier.

The Premier also urged government officials to work with locals to unlock bottlenecks resulting in arable land lying fallow and underutilised.

MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said that the Department had set a target of cultivating 14,996 hectares in the last financial year. "We have overachieved our target by supporting 15,011 hectares through our Mechanisation Programme. This includes the Provincial Employment Stimulus and the Department's funded programmes."