Mapoteng nutrition clubs lick fingers
LINEO MALATALIANA
BEREA – Various communities in Mapoteng have benefited immensely from SADP II funded programmes including assistance to establish nutrition clubs in the area. ‘Mamoleboheng Rantšo is a member one such nutrition club that was awarded a Nutrition Sensitive Grant by SADP II.
The matriarch has been carrying out the project on her property since 2017.
“I ventured into agriculture in 2017; I was part of a group of seven that cultivated green leaf crops in the not far from ours. However, in 2019 we stopped the project because it was quite a walking distance,” Rantšo said.
She then opted to run the idea in her compound with assistance from her nutrition club and the Nutrition Sensitive Grants they have been awarded.
Rantšo her Sunshine Nutrition Club have been able to produce more than just vegetables, fruits and rear chicken since then. The matriarch also produces a body lotion made from potatoes.
“I urge women and the youth to venture into agriculture because in wave of unemployment they can generate income and have some financial freedom,” Rantšo said.
She was encouraged by the local office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to form nutrition clubs, because the office is able to disseminate information and do trainings for a large group reaching the community quicker.
Through the project in collaboration with ministry, Rantšo said that they have been given skills to help them benefit from their produce including how to generate the much needed income stream as well as on the benefits of eating properly and giving back to the community.
Rantšo and Sunshine Nutrition Club were funded with shade nets, fruit trees and layer chickens.
The housing structure constructed from the shade nets homes a variety of green leafy crops including tomatoes.
Rantšo appreciated that the shade nets came in handy for her production.
“When we experience heavy rain, our crops are safe as the net lowers the impact of rain drops. It also provides much needed shade for the crops in the harsh sun,” Rantšo said.
On challenges such as pests, Rantšo said they have been taught how to use natural pest repellent like planting garlic alongside their crops.
With the harvest the club is able to generate income from the local community as well as schools. Through her efforts in agriculture, Rantšo and her club have become exemplary to other clubs who have also received grants.
The club works with the World Vision through the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) project that seeks to close gender gaps in communities and encourage women and the youth to take up decision-making roles.
Speaking on behalf of GEWE, Project Coordinator ‘Mamolleloa Kao said that the initiative works in the 10 districts and empowers women and the youth by providing skills and improvements on the ones they already have.
“We work in projects alongside SADP II where it has awarded women and youth with materials to promote good nutrition in their families and improve their lives. Ours is to walk the journey with them and encourage their work,” Kao said.
World Vision also helps village nutrition clubs to seek out markets to sell their products.
Kao said that women are hard workers and she believes that their empowerment translates into the improvement of the country, especially for children.
“We are here to encourage and showcase to other nutrition clubs that it is possible for them to get grants and impart information to clubs in Mapoteng and across the country on how to qualify for such grants,” Kao said.
SADP II project coordinator said through the initiative, they expect to inspire the participation of other organisations willing to help women and the youth in agriculture.
