With the focus on Women’s Month, Machidi Development Foundation (MDF) hosted its Women in Agriculture Interactive Workshop under the theme ‘Activating Rural Economy for All’ at Protea Hotel Ranch Resort on Friday.
The workshop included presentations from experts in matters involving rural agriculture and focused on the roles that women could play to create and sustain their own agro businesses.
Board Director of MDF Maselaganye Matji opened the workshop and said that MDF is turning five months at the end of August and assured everybody that the foundation is determined to make a difference in rural communities.
“We are so proud that we have managed to sponsor more than 40 delegates, mainly rural women, to attend this event.
We are busy with proposals, mainly Agriculture, that are meant to transform the economic conditions of our people in South Africa and the rest of the African continent. MDF is the corporate social investment vehicle of Morwakoma Matji Investment Holdings and the Lion Group,” Matji explained.
“This workshop was designed to improve what you have started doing as subsistence farmers.
We would like to witness you graduating from being subsistence farmers to commercial farmers. We would like to witness you being one of the suppliers of large South African retail stores such as Shoprite Checkers, Woolworths, Pick n Pay and Spar, among others,” Matji said.
Matji said that the presenters will share the benefits of working as a collective in order to benefit from economies of scale.
“MDF directors would like to take this opportunity to wish you the best in your new journey as farmers for Sekhukhune District Municipality, Limpopo Province and the rest of the African continent.
There is nothing that stops you from influencing Agriculture in the rest of the African continent and the world,” Matji assured the delegates.
After the workshop, Matji extended a special word of appreciation towards the presenters and the delegates as well as the programme director, Ashiffashabba Muleya and the media for covering the event.
Story/photos: BARRY VILJOEN
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with Machidi Development Foundation board member
Naredi Matji and guests Pinkie, Rose and Magret Matji.
Limpopo Department of
Agriculture and Rural
Development, Kenny
Moabelo.
and Development at
ZZ2, Precious Novela.
Integration Principal of Anglo American, Craig du Plessis.
De Beers Group, Errol
Musisinyane.
Agriculture Assistant Research Manager at the Water Research Commission, Samkelisiwe
Hlope-Ginindza.