Nearly 1000 landowners in Bizana and Lady Frere are set to benefit from a R100-million agro-processing programme managed by the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA).

The initiative was launched by MEC for rural development and agrarian reform Mlibo Qoboshiyane in an event attended by community members and local municipal officials in Mbizana.

ECRDA chief executive Thozamile Gwanya said the R100-million from the Eastern Cape provincial treasury is in addition to R91-million committed last year to roll out the agro-processing programme in Ncora and Mqanduli.

“A total of R53-million and R46-million respectively have been committed to Bizana and Lady Frere respectively over the next three years.

In this first season, 1000 hectares of white maize will be planted in Bizana and another 100 hectares of sorghum will be planted in Lady Frere,” said Gwanya.

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