South African community fights poverty with citrus project

The poverty-stricken Winterveldt community in South Africa's Northern Tshwane is eradicating their socio-economic problems with their "Winterveldt Citrus Project." The project has thus far created jobs for more than 2,000 people, who celebrated their third recently.

Emerging farmers started the project five years ago when they saw under-utilised land's agricultural potential and transformed it into a productive citrus farm. Today, 150 farmers supply oranges, naartjies and grapefruit to local markets.

Regina Molokomme says,"As a women, it has challenged me in that agriculture was always related to men. But since I have taken up this, it has really influenced me that women can do it."

Dr. Sam Motsuenyane, founder of the Winterveldt Citrus Project, says, "Over 1,000 people have already got jobs from us directly and indirectly. Last year we produced 11 tonnes of citrus and this year we hope to have nearly 20 tonnes. To bolster this success, the Tshwane Metro Council has injected R2 million ($287,000) into the project."

The farmers currently boast 43,000 trees, but they plan to plant a further 100,000 by the year 2010.

SABC