The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mrs Tina Joemat-Pettersson, said that the new Matsila Community Farms Project will fight unemployment in the area.

She officially opened the project at Matsila Village in the Masia area last Sunday.

She added that the project, which is funded by the National Lottery to the tune of R54million, was the first phase, as more money will be pumped into the region. She presented eggs that were coming from the same project to destitute children during the event. "I do not want to see children going to bed hungry. This project must ensure that members of the community have food at their homes," she said.

She mentioned that in the next phase, her department will assist the project with tractors, so that it can also start with crop farming.

"Agriculture has the ability to feed the people. I want to see the project selling its eggs and meat to schools, prisons and other government institutions. We want to see this project creating more jobs," she appealed.

At present, the project, which has been hailed by the minister as a roaring success, involves chicken farming, cattle farming, fish farming, tomatoe and lettuce farming. The project comprises 180 goats, a herd of cattle with 50 Nguni cows, two bulls and 4 000 free-range chickens, with a capacity to lay 3 000 eggs per day.

The minister was also excited when she saw the cattle being bred at the project. “Madiba is passionate about Nguni cattle. He feels the breed must not be allowed to die,” she said. The project presently employs 300 workers, who were drawn from the local community.

Local traditional leader Chief Livhuwani Matsila said he was excited about the assistance from the government. “With such help, the sky is the limit for us,” he added. He said he could see the project employing 1 000 workers in the near future.

The project was also hailed by Professor Alfred Nevhutanda of the National Lottery Fund. “This is by far the biggest project we have funded in Limpopo, and looking at its success so far, this is money well spent,” he said.

Accompanied by Limpopo First lady Mokgadi Mathale, the MEC for Agriculture, Dipuo Letsatsi Duba, Vhembe District Executive Mayor Florence Dzhombere and Makhado Municipality Mayor Mavhungu Luruli, the minister inspected all the projects.

The Matsila Community Development Trust was established by the Matsila Royal Family in consultation with the community, to facilitate and coordinate socio-economic development activities within Ha-Matsila Village and the surrounding communities.

The Matsila Community Development Trust, in collaboration with Resource Africa, is currently involved in a comprehensive rural development programme, which is funded by the National Lottery Board.