By Mukelwa Hlatshwayo

Winterveld, one of the poorest areas in Tshwane and plagued with unemployment, was given a new lease on life when it was discovered as having huge potential for growing citrus trees.

The area, which consists of 1 658 plots ranging in size from five to ten morgen, was originally sold to black farmers in the 1940s on a freehold basis. The land lay dormant for many years.

With the help of the private sector, a citrus project was launched on 24 July 2002. One thousand orange trees were planted, and the numbers have since increased by the thousands.

The Executive Mayor of Tshwane attended two tree-planting ceremonies, and subsequently requested the Municipality's Local Economic Development Division to get involved. The municipality also pledged funding for the project, and it has contributed to the 12 200 trees planted to date.

The farmers involved were asked to take responsibility for planting the trees and looking after them, and for establishing a small packaging and processing plant to package and distribute the fruit.

The project is multifaceted, benefiting not only the farmers who are directly involved in the project but also the community at large. Jobs are being created, which will improve socio-economic conditions in the area and therefore the lives of the residents.

The more than 12 000 trees should yield a million oranges a year. If each farmer with 100 trees produces 1 400 bags and sells them for R7,50 each, the annual income for each farmer will be R10 500.

Read the full story, posted on tshwane.gov.za.

Source: Tshwane official website