ANDM AND ASGISA-EC DEVELOP RURAL AREAS—R7 MILLION PROJECT LAUNCHED

Nokulunga Makholwa was one of hundreds of jobless youth in Alfred Nzo District Municipality, in the Eastern Cape. Feeding her two young children presented a daily challenge. But all that changed for the young 28-year-old, with the rollout of a grain project at Dangwana Village outside Mount Frere.

Makholwa is one of the community members taking part in the rural Grain Production project in Dangwana Village, which is part of the Districts food production programme.

This Grain production projects was launched by MEC Mbulelo Sogoni and MEC Mcebisi Jonas in front of over two hundred people.

The project focuses on the grain production in which ASGISA-EC and ANDM played a major role in assisting.
Makholwa said that before the opportunity arose to work on the project, she used to go to bed at night with an empty stomach. But that is no longer the case.

“I’m now a person just like other people who are able to support their children and sleep with full stomachs, the project has saved my life,” she said.

The rollout of the project was hastened after the district was hit by severe unemployment.
The district decided on the grain production as it can stand the harsh weather conditions in the area.

The project, which was also meant to address the high rate of unemployment within the district, is on a large barren of land made available by the district.

It is run by a project steering committee with the communities making sure that they work themselves in the fields.

During a visit to the actual site, MEC Sogoni encouraged the community to continue with the good work they are doing.

“No one else will work for you in these fields either than your selves. We as government are committed in assisting in any form to make sure that this project does not fail. It is also imperative that you also guard this as it is your livelihood” MEC Sogoni said.

The target group for employment includes women, youth and community members in the villages.

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