The Dikonyana Community Based Care Centre has received a donation that will be of great value in boosting its small-scale organic fresh produce project.
The donation of full gardening kit sets, courtesy of the Shoprite Group, was made in line with the retail group’s objective to ensure greater food security in the community, supporting a hunger relief programme.
The gardening kits, presented on 5 September to ten people involved at the centre, include: seeds, hand tools, organic fertilisers and a bucket for watering, as well as a training manual. Recipients completed basic training on gardening as a source of food security.
The training is facilitated by Food and Trees for Africa, a development organisation focusing on food security, urban greening and environmental sustainability.
Members of the thriving fresh produce project based in Namibia, Bloemfontein, participated in the Shoprite Group’s market day held on 7 June, selling a range of fresh produce from the retailer’s shelf at Shoprite Heidedal. Produce such as spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce and green beans was made available.
The market day is an initiative aimed at affording fresh produce of small-scale community projects access to the market, ensuring the sustainability of such ventures.
The group supports more than 200 community food gardens and over 3 500 home gardens, which impacts almost 55 000 beneficiaries.
The project of Dikonyana started off small in 2004 with four women, and was only registered in 2012.
There are now 12 members, both men and women, actively involved.
