Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe Empowers 69-Year-Old Cala Farmer with Tractor and Implements

In a powerful display of support for elderly and small-scale farmers, the Eastern Cape MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nonceba Kontsiwe, officially handed over a tractor with its full set of implements to Mr. Bangile Jama, a 69-year-old farmer from Zikhonkwane Village in Cala. The handover took place at Beestekraal Farm, located approximately 14 kilometres outside Cala town, where Mr. Jama currently resides and farms.

Mr. Jama’s story is one of dedication, resilience, and unwavering faith in the value of hard work. Despite his age and limited financial resources, he demonstrated remarkable commitment by using his pension funds to pay a deposit towards the purchase of a farm through a loan. His vision was to own productive land and contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s food security.

MEC Kontsiwe commended Mr. Jama’s determination, noting that his story embodies the spirit of self-reliance and perseverance that the province seeks to promote among emerging farmers.

The newly handed-over tractor and implements will significantly enhance Mr. Jama’s ability to expand his farming operations, increase productivity, and improve efficiency on his land. The support also aligns with the department’s broader mission to empower smallholder and elderly farmers, ensuring they have access to modern agricultural machinery and technical assistance.

Mr. Jama expressed deep gratitude for the government’s intervention and said the tractor will greatly improve operations on his farm — from ploughing to planting and harvesting.

The handover at Beestekraal Farm highlights how targeted government interventions can strengthen rural economies, inspire community farming initiatives, and recognize the lifelong contributions of older farmers who continue to play a vital role in food production.

As South Africa continues to advance agricultural transformation and inclusion, stories like Mr. Jama’s remind us that farming is not only a livelihood — it’s a legacy of resilience, hope, and nation-building.