The MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, participated in the Operation Siyahlola at the Department's Mtubatuba local office on 11 February 2026, to assess the viability of its services to the farmers and the general public. The office provided assistance to 60 farmers by supplying agricultural inputs, fertilizers and seeds. At the handover, kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said that the Farmer Support Programme aims to address food insecurity and establish uMkhanyakude District as a leading agricultural region renowned for producing dry beans, various vegetables, groundnuts and beef cattle.

"We are heeding the call by our Premier, the Hon. A.T. Ntuli, to promote greenery in the Province through intensifying efforts for the public to cultivate vegetables and crops. We want our offices such as Mtubatuba Local to deliver services to the communities they serve. Our agricultural research institutions produce 10 million seedlings annually and we also procure thousands of production inputs, which should be given to farmers. With available land, we can address food insecurity, establish businesses and be self-reliant just like how our great leaders have taught us."

Each of the sixty beneficiaries, who applied through the Department's Call for Funding Application for 2025/2026, received essential agricultural production inputs including three planting fertilizers, two top dressing fertilizers, 25 kg of dry beans seeds, 5 litres of herbicides and 12 chicks (10 hens and 2 cocks).