LandCare Centre
14 August 2006
Environmental Affairs and Tourism Deputy Minister, Rejoice Mabudafhasi will
officially open the Mmapake LandCare Centre as part of the desertification
drive. The Centre is part of the bigger LandCare programmes, which are at
Mmametlhake Community in the Moretele, Nkangala area. The community under the
Mmaphake LandCare Forum are involved in projects which deal with methods of
avoiding land degradation, land rehabilitation, tree planting and water and
soil conservation, which is part of natural resource management.
The project was established in 2003 after the local community realised the
importance of their own natural resources, which are threatened by being
misused. The community started to rally around the project called Barua-kgomo
veld management project. The drive is spearheaded by the MmaPhake LandCare
forum and supported by the community.
The 27 projects centre is the one of its kind in the country as reported by
the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This is a
centre that is aimed at placing the issues of natural resource decline to the
public domain, food security and enhancing the local agricultural. The project
aims at improving food security, increasing agricultural productivity,
rehabilitating degraded land by constructing proper water ways and training
farmers.
Through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), the project has been
able to receive training though the Department of Labour, where beneficiaries
were trained in project management, financial management, organic farming and
First Aid.
To date it has created a number of jobs to locals in the implementation of
the 27 LandCare project including the construction of the Community LandCare
centre. It has contributed meaningfully to the economy, and subsequently helps
in the eradication of poverty. Beneficiaries at the centre are involved in
vegetable gardening, fruit processing, and training in project management.
Provincial MEC for Agriculture and Land Administration, Madala Masuku will
accompany the Deputy Minister.
Event details:
Venue: Mmamethlake Landscape Centre
Date: 15 August 2006
Time: 10h00
Enquiries:
Freddy Ngobe
Tel: (013) 766 6086
Cell: 082 821 4148
Molefe Molamu
Tel: (012) 310 3899
Cell: 082 561 6261
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
14 August 2006
