NOLUVO MGIJIMA 

INNOVATIVE approaches to overcome poverty in the rural village of Mkhomanzi in Ntabankulu are yielding results, however, there is still much to be done to end poverty.

A community project called Ndikhoyo Farming and Trading was formed in 2016 to produce vegetables and supply them to schools.

But later, project founders decided to donate some of the harvests to poverty-stricken homes.

The work done by the project in fighting poverty in the area was commended at the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) on Wednesday, August 28.

The programme was hosted by the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development in partnership with other government departments and stakeholders.

The programme was meant to tackle factors contributing to high poverty levels in the village.

Department of Social Development Eastern Cape provincial director Nobubele Volsak said that Mkhomanzi village is one of the worst poverty-affected areas in South Africa.

She applauded the Ndikhoyo Farming and Trading project for the work it has been doing to fight poverty.

“The Ndikhoyo Farming and Trading project is exactly the intervention we need. The project was funded by the Department of Social Development,” she said. At the event, food parcels, school uniforms and sanitary pads were donated.

The Department of Agriculture donated seedlings to the community. Resident Nancy Mfuyo said that the seedlings will contribute to her garden.

Nokulunga Njiva, one of the project founders, said that the project has played a significant role in fighting poverty.