To mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty the Minister of Social Development, Ms Edna Molewa, will tomorrow, 17 October 2009, launch the Hemp project, a partnership between government, private sector and women cooperatives aimed at uplifting emerging black women farmers in the Eastern Cape.
The event will take place at Maponya Mall in Soweto, Johannesburg. The Department of Social Development has entered into a Cooperation Agreement with the Hemp Industrial Park to set up a Hemp Cottage Industry in partnership with Silindithemba Cooperative and Indalo (a black-owned farming enterprise).
The project targets mainly rural women, most of whom are caregivers of the beneficiaries of social grants. The intention is to link the beneficiaries of social grants to sustainable livelihoods and cooperatives which will in a long term graduate them out of poverty.
At the launch the cooperatives of this R20 million venture will showcase a variety of hemp products including clothes, food supplements and health products.
Media are invited to cover the event.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: Saturday, 17 October 2009
Time: 10h00
Venue: Shop 185, Maponya Mall, Soweto
RSVPs:
Jackie Kobue
Cell: 073 026 1111
Tel: 012 312 7793
Enquiries:
Zanele Mngadi
Cell: 082 330 1148
Issued by: Department of Social Development
16 October 2009
Source: Department of Social Development (http://www.dsd.gov.za/)
