Emmasdal food garden project
As part of the provincial anti-poverty strategy roll out plan, the Gauteng Department of social development launched a women agricultural food gardening project at Emmasdal Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC). The primary objective of the launch which took place on September 2, was among others to streamline women empowerment in agriculture, empowering 100% women-owned cooperatives, job creation and promote effective and sustainable local economy participation.
The initiative at Emmasdal started after Nomathemba Mokgethi (MEC Gauteng department of social development) visited a number of institutions and on her visit to Emmasdal identified an open area of land. “I saw here the potential for agriculture, social economy and job creation. The food gardening project at Emmasdal is one of many to follow as Lesedi is known for its agricultural capabilities,” Mokgethi said.
“The Covid-19 pandemic taught us how to distribute food parcels in case of emergencies. Poverty and unemployment should not go hand in hand and food should be available to all through local, sustainable agricultural projects, not only in emergencies,” Tintswalo Makhubele (Secretary General of SA Congress of non profit organisations (SACONO)) said.
“Lesedi means light and has the potential to grow from small to big. We want to supply local retail food stores with crops which are locally planted, managed and harvested by female owned cooperatives. By doing this, we align ourselves to two strategies from national Government which is empowerment of women and creation of sustainable food projects. We are pleased with the support from the SANational Defense Force (SANDF) and excited to work with both cooperatives on similar projects which is to be launched in Lesedi,” Lerato Maloka (executive major Lesedi local municipality (LLM)) concluded.
Two 100% female owned cooperatives took hands with social development by donating seeds, rakes, shovels and nutritional soil supplements to kick off the garden project.
“Together we will produce what the local market will consume,” was the closing comment made by Mokgethi.
For enquiries LLM can be phoned at 0800 11 8000 or 016 330 0400
