The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, will conduct an oversight visit to a National Development Agency (NDA) funded project, Zanokhanyo Agricultural Cooperative in Upper Gxulu Keiskammahoek. The visit is part of a series of engagements by the Minister in Buffalo City and Amathole district ahead of the Nelson Mandela Childrens Parliament on Friday, 14 July 2023.
The NDA, which reports to the Social Development Ministry, is an agency of government tasked with the mandate to contribute towards the eradication of poverty and its causes in South Africa. Through grant funding and capacity development of civil society organisations, the NDA facilitates sustainable development programmes that generate income and create jobs in previously disadvantaged communities.
ZAC is one such project, operating on 130 hectares of land. The project focuses on producing and selling sweet peppers, blue berries and lucerne. The NDA funding of R493 350, 00 will expand operations by increasing the number of shade nets to boost production from 300 – 480 tons. Additionally, the members of the cooperative will receive training from the NDA, in addition to technical training provided by the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform. The sweet peppers are sent to CARARA Agro-processing plant based in Grahamstown where they are repackaged for sale to local and international markets.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the visit as follows:
Date: Thursday, 13 July 2023
Venue: Zanokhanyo Agricultural Cooperative Upper Gxulu, Keiskammahoek
Time: 13h30 – 14h30
Media can RSVP by contacting Lesego Ranchu on lesegor@nda.org.za or 073 547 2800
