ensures the people's right to food
16 October 2007
Rustenburg: JD Mosia Primary School and Tshupe Hospice vegetable projects at
Tlhabane in the Rustenburg Local Municipality were the main beneficiaries of
the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment's food security
programme, when they received vegetable seedlings to get off the ground and
improve vegetable gardens in their premises.
The department further distributed agricultural starter packs comprising of
10 point of lay hens, two 50 kilogramme bags of laying pellets, 100 vegetable
seedlings, a vegetable pack and one roll wire mesh to ten needy families
identified by the provincial Department of Social Development. The distribution
of seedlings and starter packs was part of the provincial celebration of World
Food Day that was held at Rustenburg's Olympia Park stadium.
Receiving the seedlings on behalf of the school, Miss Tiny Radikonyana,
project leader at JD Mosia Primary School said because of the high rate of
unemployment in their area, five women volunteered to start and manage this
school garden. She said they donate food to children who come from poor
families. They have planted spinach, cabbage, beetroot and onions in the
garden. Through this schoolyard garden they teach, motivate and encourage
children to grow their own gardens at home.
They also teach them how to plant vegetables and take care of them.
Demonstrating the planting process to the learners, Head of Department, Mr Paul
Mogotlhe said that he was impressed by both projects. He urged extension
officers to continue providing technical advice and after care services to
these projects to ensure that they benefit the entire community.
Addressing members of the community who attended the celebration on behalf
of the MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment Jan Serfontein, Member
of Mayoral Committee MMC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment in the
Bojanala District Municipality Mr SS Malete, said this programme is intended to
strengthen the department's efforts of halving the level of hunger.
"Of particular importance is for these beneficiaries to use their starter
packs wisely to achieve its objectives. Through its food security programme,
the department is annually distributing agricultural starter packs to needy
communities but these products do not last long. We urge all beneficiaries to
use these packs sensibly by ensuring that from today onwards, they do not sleep
on empty stomachs, MMC Malete said.
One of the major projects that the department is committed to is Letsema la
Mantshatlala which has been in place since 1999. World Food Day was founded in
1945 by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN)
and is intended to acknowledge the food insecurity challenges and give
attention to the idea of eradicating food insecurity worldwide. It is also
meant to highlight improvements to how agricultural production initiatives can
improve the living conditions of rural people, creation of employment and
eradication of poverty.
Enquiries:
Ms Lesego Mncwango
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 018 389 5768
Cell: 078 459 5981
E-mail: lmncwango@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment
16 October 2007
