Today the National Development Agency celebrates the graduation ceremony of 14 funded project beneficiaries at Fair Deal Agriculture Training Centre (FDATC) in Suurbekom. This is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed in December 2010 between the NDA and FDATC in which FDATC volunteered to train 14 NDA project beneficiaries for free. Training took place from 10 January 2011 to 31 January 2011.
The agricultural training consisted of plant and poultry production to the value of R85 660,00. The skills acquired will enable the beneficiaries to properly prepare the soil for planting purposes, use and care for hand tools, basic equipment and infrastructure, and produce poultry broilers.
Fair Deal also committed to accommodating the students for the duration of the programme at no cost. The graduates will today be awarded with Certificates of competence.
Mr Dan Raseluma, the NDA Capacity Building Specialist said "The benefits of the agreement will be that NDA funded projects with nominated beneficiaries will have proper skills and knowledge to produce good quality crops and be able to market them. This is contributing to the creation of a better workforce which leads to the reduction of poverty in the country."
The selected Cooperatives are from five different provinces; namely Gauteng: Isiqalo Cooperative, Asitshaleni Primary Agriculture Cooperative, Zingisane Sewing and Agricultural Primary Cooperative and Ziviseni Agricultural Cooperative; Mpumalanga: Mkhondo Vuka Usebenze Cooperative, Mangale Poultry Cooperative, Zigna HBCC and Motive Youth Cooperative; Eastern Cape: Klipplaat Cooperative and Senqu Agricutural Cooperative and Limpopo: Mulenzhe Agricultural Cooperative, Kgatlu Development Cooperative, Ikageng Tshehlong Cooperative and Hlalala Cooperative.
"The National Development Agency welcomes the support from the centre and encourages other institutions that are capable of supporting government initiatives to better the lives of South Africans to do the same. We need to work hand in hand to ensure poverty is eradicated. Mrs Khozas generosity is beyond measure, people would hardly think of supporting governments initiatives using their own resources. She did just that and that proves that together, we can do more to make a difference." said Mrs Vuyelwa Nhlapo, NDA Chief Executive Officer.
FDATC is headed by a 2007 community development winner Mrs Sabina Khoza, who opened the centre to teach the poor so that they are able to fend for themselves. The centre was started to train young people from Soweto and the surrounding areas in Agriculture, but, today the centre trains people from all over South Africa.
For National Development Agencye:
Ms Mukondi Makhwathane
Tel: 011 018 5536/5500
Cell: 083 739 7642
E-mail: mukondelelim@nda.org.za mu
For Fair Deal:
Mrs SabinaKhoza
Tel: 011 851 2613/4
Cell: 082 572 3273
E-mail: binafairdeal@worldonline.co.za
Source: National Development Agency
