The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will in its concerted effort to encourage backyard gardening among the rural communities, plant a variety of vegetables and fruit trees for 70 families in Marikana, Segwaelane, Wonderkop and the local Home Based Care near Rustenburg, in the Bojanala Platinum District. This activity will take place tomorrow, Thursday 08 August.
For the beneficiaries to get going, the MEC for Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono who will be joined by the department’s management and technical staff, as well as representatives from the local municipality, will hand over gardening tools and production inputs comprising rakes, spade forks, watering cans, fertilizers, garden rip courts, and spray bottles.
This is part of the department’s “One family, one food garden” campaign which aims to combat vitamin and mineral deficiency or hidden hunger, which is the leading cause of malnutrition in many rural areas. Moreover, the activity represents the call to make everyday a Mandela day.
“It is absolutely essential to grow more food. Our department is leading the way, distributing vegetable seedlings and fruit trees across the province. We are still pursuing Madiba’s mission, and we hope that all the beneficiaries will see it that way, and look after the gardens we are establishing in an effort to fight poverty,” says MEC Mohono.
Members of the media are invited to the activity which will take place as follows:
Date: Thursday, 8 August 2013
Time: 08h00
Venue: Marikana
Contact person:
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Cell: 082 901 2435 or 018 389 5719
E-mail: bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za or mohlakoana.bonolo@gmail.com
