Traditional leader says she was lost for words when asked to comment on the good work being done in her area.

The communities of Tsolo and Qumbu villages roundly applauded the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the provincial government during the recent visits to the rural development pilot sites.

The two day visit was aimed at assessing the impact made by the initiative which was launched last year and delegation, which was led by the premier on the second day, listened to the community's stories on how the development has helped them not only to put food on their table but improved the income and well being.

A traditional leader, Mama Nobubele at Nombodlelana village said had "lost words" to thank the development happening in her area, she further said she was happy rural development was being piloted in her area because they were poor.

"We did not know something this glorious can happen in our area. Our stomachs are full and we are able to sell the excess," she said to a loud applause from the community.

The MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Mbulelo Sogoni encouraged the community for the "good work" they have done, adding that he was happy the community was "taking care" of the land.

"The government has great intentions of development people living in rural area and your support is helping us to realise that.

"People should take ownership of the programmes brought to them by government," he added.

The villages visited have benefited from the rural development initiative where agriculture was identified as a point of entry for rural development but other social and infrastructure initiatives have also produced quality results.

In the Tsolo area, agriculture activities included provision of fence for arable land both homestead gardens and fields, provision of quality bulls, provision of seeds and seedlings as well ploughing implements and equipment.

The delegation witnessed that 12 kilometres of the 16 kilometres fields have been fenced and maize was planted while 142 households had their garden fenced and at least seven bulls have already started to change the face of livestock in the Tsolo area.

Proud villagers showed off their produce of huge potatoes as well as beautiful planted fields and the y told the delegation that they were able to feed their families and sell the excess in order to send their children to school.

In the Qumbu area the delegation was told of how the 108 households benefited from the 4 500 layers (egg producing chickens) was reaping the fruits of the development, with one beneficiary thanking the government for enabling her to send her grandchildren to school.

The delegation heard that dozens of eggs are being sold at a local supermarket at Qumbu through a deal clinched by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development while some are sold to a businessman who has a contract with a fast food shop in Mthatha. The 229 beneficiaries of bulls, goats and sheep were also enthusiastic about the benefits with others professing that their goats were having multiple births.

It was witnessed that the vision of sustainable and improved rural livelihood through integration of services is being attained in the pilot villages as communities told the delegation that there were regular mobile clinics, social workers were visiting, and people were being registered for social grants and identity documents (IDs).

Other achievements included roads infrastructure, supply of houses to identified needy families, supply of water and electricity supply, support to the early childhood development education and improvement of local economic development.

Work opportunities and local business empowerment were also boasted by hiring six local contractors to do the fencing of gardens and the arable lands and at least 123 local people are employed in this process.