Residents of the Gamopedi village in the Ga-Segonyane Municipality have received a grant, allowing them to set themselves up in farming.
Residents of the Gamopedi village in the Ga-Segonyane Municipality have received a grant, allowing them to set themselves up in farming.
ActionAid South Africa recently met an informal group from the Gamopedi village in the Ga-Segonyane Municipality, who it assisted to become fully registered and apply for the grant from the Department of Social Government, which was used for borehole drilling, setting up a pump and fencing.
On a number of occasions preciously, the group had contacted the Ga-Segonyane Municipality offices to find out what kind of support they could receive to start farming in their community in order to provide food for their children.
The Municipality informed them that they could have access to an agricultural subsidy grant from the Department of Social Government but that in order to qualify they needed to have land, be organised, registered and skilled, all requirements which they did not have.
At this point the Municipality suggested that they approach ActionAid South Africa for assistance to meet the requirements and to access government funding from the Department of Social Development.
ActionAid worked with the group to become formally registered and apply for the funding.
The local Chief agreed to give the group a larger piece of land to start their vegetable farming. Two or three months after registration and submission of the application, the group was successful in getting the agricultural subsidy grant which was used for borehole drilling, setting up a pump and fencing.
Goitsimang Motong, one of the founding members of the group, has hope that with the help of ActionAid the group can grow to something bigger and further help their community.
“Although we hope our project can generate more money than it is doing now, it has made a lot of difference in the community of Gamopedi," she said.
"Apart from the group members we give food from the project to schools and crèches, sick people and we also sell to the community. Without the support of ActionAid and the Department of Social Development that would not have been possible."
In addition to the grant from the Department of Social Development, ActionAid supported the group with agricultural skills training and provision of seeds, tools, fertilizers, pipes and chemicals.
The group members are now producing enough crops for their families. HIV/AIDS affected households are also being provided with produce free of charge.