The MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, Mase Manopole is leading program to establish backyard food gardens in the Northern Cape schools.
She started the initiative in two schools, namely, Tlhatlogang intermediate and Mogomotsi high, at the Ikhutseng township, near Warrenton in the Magareng Local Municipality.
MEC Manopole said the initiative was to assist the schools to produce more food for the government supported school nutrition program.
“I would also like to see the food garden expanding so that the community can benefit from the produce. Hence, through our Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP) program, we are allocating each school with two employees who will work full time on the garden through the assistance of our extension officials,” said MEC Manopole.
“We will also be introducing new methods for food security in our schools and communities, of using recycled products such tyres and plastic bottles to plant vegetables. Our children should be taught from an early age that they cannot throw anything away, some of the staff can be used to grow food in our schools and our homes. In that way, we will be using small amount of water but harvest more food for our families.”
The MEC was accompanied by the Magareng local municipality’s Executive Mayor, Cllr. Neo Mase, the Chief whip Cllr. Nontsizi Mokomela and the ward councillor, Masego Melulo.
In Mogomotsi high school, the MEC interacted with Grade 12 pupils who are doing agriculture as a main subject.
“Agriculture might not look attractive to most young people, because of the work that has to be put in on the veld and in the kraal, but there is a lot of money to be made through food security. Find your forte within the sector and work on it. Be part of the value chain. Agriculture is so far the biggest employer in the Northern Cape and it continues to create more jobs,” she said.
The MEC donated garden equipments, fertilizers, seedlings, dustbins and sports kit to the schools.
Issued by the department of agriculture, environmental affairs, rural development and land reform.
