The project aims to empower community members to earn a sustainable income through agriculture. (Photo: AfriForum)
A joint laying hen project was launched this week by the Batlharo Ba Ga Motlhware traditional council in collaboration with Saai and AfriForum as part of efforts to improve food security.
The project was launched on Batlharos, headquarters of the Batlharo Ba Ga Motlware cultural community north of Kuruman in the Northern Cape.
In addition to the provision of a starter package that includes Boschveld chicken chicks, a chicken coop and accessories, training in chicken farming was offered to community members. AfriForum and the Batlharo Ba Ga Motlware cultural community also signed a mutual recognition and cooperation agreement during the event.
The agricultural development project is made possible by means of these two organisations’ agricultural development incubator, Resilient Regenerative Agricultural Initiative (RRAIN). It serves as an outgrowth of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders’ (NHTKL) second annual Lenaka Memorial Lecture held at Batlharos in November.
The agricultural development project is made possible by means of these two organizations’ agricultural development incubator. (Photo: AfriForum)
“This project will strengthen food security within our community by improving community members’ access to affordable, protein-rich food. It also creates the opportunity to gain knowledge about the agricultural industry and secure a sustainable income that can be used for the benefit of our community,” said Kgosi Pelonomi Toto, kgosi of the Batlharo Ba Ga Motlware and chairman of the Batlharo Ba Ga Motlware traditional council.
“It is a privilege for us to work with role players who want to make a positive difference at the grassroots level.
Kgosi Thabo Seatlholo, chairman of the NHTKL, says the annual Lenaka lecture creates a platform to celebrate the community’s rich heritage, while promoting inclusive socio-economic development within traditional communities.
“Our approach is to strengthen partnerships, improve institutional capacity and unlock opportunities for sustainable growth. It is encouraging that this initiative has once again led to the establishment of a project that has the potential to be a lasting and positive legacy for this rural community,” he says.
Kgosi Pelonomi Toto and Kallie Kriel. (Photo: AfriForum)
Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, described it as a great privilege for the organization to be a partner of the Batlharo Ba Ga Motlware and the NHTKL in this initiative.
“This serves as proof that a bright future for the children of the country is possible when cultural communities work together on the basis of mutual recognition and respect to enable communities to improve their living conditions and become more independent. We are grateful for the support of KLK Landbou, which helps make the project possible,” says Kriel.
According to dr. Theo de Jager, chairman of Saai, food security in rural areas remains a major challenge. “The best way to overcome this and create wealth at the same time is to enable people who have the will and the potential with the right support to eventually be able to produce commercially.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this project that helps empower rural community members to combat malnutrition and make a living through agriculture.”
Kgosi Pelonomi Toto and Barend Uys. (Photo: AfriForum)
Barend Uys, head of intercultural relations and cooperation at AfriForum, says that people can easily be paralyzed by the major challenges facing the country and then do nothing.
“However, this humble project shows that communities and leaders can choose to work together to improve the lives of communities at the grassroots level. The positive impact of each small project adds up to ultimately improve our society as a whole.”
“We hope that the continued cooperation between different cultural communities, of which this project is the latest example, will also inspire other role players in the private and public sector to get involved in sustainable community development.”