Teach a person to plant and feed a nation

One hundred employees of Amalgamated Beverages Industries descended on Marlboro and Alexandra as part of the company’s environment and food security awareness campaign.

They took part in greening the environment and working on a vegetable garden to promote food security. Also, they worked with the community on environmental health by cleaning up parts of Alexandra.

The company’s representative William Mahlasela said the programme responded to key needs of communities and government priorities on food security and environmental preservation. The food security component involved preparing vegetable beds, planting seedlings and fruit trees at a garden at the Setswetla village which was set up by non-profit organisation Gift of the Givers.

Other partners of the campaign were Food and Trees For Africa and CORPS which are experts in agro-industry and environmental management. Pikitup provided plastic bags for refuse collection.

Mahlasela said The Gift of the Givers would assist the beneficiaries of the food garden to raise income by marketing the produce to the community and local supermarkets.

Welcome Mahlalela, caretaker of the village commended the organisation for the food garden and said it reflected their caring hearts. “We have a fully equipped kitchen and the steady supply of vegetables from the garden will add to our meals,” he said.

A company staff member Laiis van Rensburg said it was a rewarding feeling to contribute to food production and food security for poor citizens. “The garden is not a handout, but a long-term investment to sustain life.”

Colleague John Swanepoel said the food garden was a good investment. He urged the beneficiaries to look after it as he would check on its progress regularly.