The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) partnered with the Department of Correctional Services to host an information day.
The information day was held at the centre on Tuesday, May 10.
With the theme: ‘It is never too late to start’, offenders at the facility were introduced to programmes like environmental services, the Zonda Insila Programme, veterinary services, Phezukomkhono Mlimi and Masibuyele Esibayeni, among others.
The aim was to encourage the offenders as they undergo rehabilitation, to consider taking advantage of opportunities in the field of agriculture and the environment, recycling, including the desperately needed scarce skills in these sectors, as they play a major role in the development and growth of the economy.
Ms Smangele Masango representing area commissioner Reverend Mandla Sibanyoni said that the economy of the country had dropped because of certain factors like the Covid-19, climate change and many other factors and that it was important that agriculture be prioritised and the need to be self-sufficient and start doing things on your own for a better life.
She said agriculture can boost the economy of the country.
“Our lives depend on agriculture, and it’s very key. One can start very small with a backyard garden and develop from there. Let’s get the information to improve our lives,” she said.
Mr Dan Sibanyoni presenting the Phezukomkhono Mlimi Mkhono Programme said that the department launched the Agricultural Food Basket Initiative last year and the initiative seeks to improve the food and nutritional security of vulnerable households in rural, urban and peri-urban areas of the province amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
To achieve that, the Mpumalanga Provincial Government has identified an area in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality for the establishment of 1.5 hectares for a nursery to produce vegetable seedlings to supply 56 projects and the surrounding areas.
Of the 664 identified beneficiaries, 424 are females and 222 are youth.
This project is one of the many poverty alleviation initiatives introduced by the provincial government.
The Agricultural Food Basket Initiative was launched under the theme: ‘Every space is a Phezukomkhono Mlimi site: Turning Mpumalanga Green’.
It comes in the wake of efforts by the provincial government to stimulate the economy through the Mpumalanga Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (MERRP) amid the pandemic.
In presenting the Masibuyel’ esibayeni programme the department stated that through the livestock improvement programme, the department is responding to the concerns raised by livestock farmers at their exclusion from the benefits enjoyed by crop farmers who are assisted through the country’s renowned Masibuyela Emasimini programme.
Under the same programme, farmers are assisted with the indigenous Nguni cattle, in a project that is collaborative run with the University of Limpopo and the Independent Development Corporation.
According to the department, waste can be your wealth.
This is the main reason former MEC Vusi Shongwe launched a waste management initiative called Zonda Insila Programme (ZIP) which is aimed at enhancing and increasing the knowledge of good waste management principles in communities.
The launch was a call for members of the public not to waste waste.
The launch of the Zonda Insila programme followed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s national Good Green Deeds campaign launched in 2019 which aims at a safer and cleaner South Africa, encouraging new patterns of behaviour towards waste management issues.
It is estimated that South Africa’s waste economy contributes a minimum of R15 billion to the Gross Domestic Product.
Ms Hilda Makola presented environmental awareness and pointed out the importance of environmental education.
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