Speaking to OFM News about the initiative, executive mayor Gilbert Mokotso said this will help the cooperatives to produce more food and help in terms of job creation. Mokotso says the local economy is dependent on agricultural. He encouraged people to start planting vegetables in their yards. Jabulani Tshabalala, Nedbank business manager, said at least R100 000 has been used to buy equipment that will assist the cooperatives. Qwakanda cooperative leader, Sabata Lethoba, says the tools - including a wheelbarrow, rakes, spades, hose pipes, seeds, fertilizers, water tanks and poles - will be a great help.

PHD graduate in Horticulture sciences, Dr Bonga Ngcobo from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, has developed new combinations of pre- and post-harvest treatment. In a statement Ngcobo says his research could form part of a green economy in South Africa, and help poor rural households and subsistence farmers achieve greater food security. He adds that by applying moringa extracts directly to the soil or leaves of crops,  small-scale farmers could cultivate healthy, salable produce on a relatively small piece of land. He adds he hopes his findings will contribute to addressing issues faced by both commercial and small-scale farmers in rural areas, in particular advancing the skills of smallholder farmers and the sustainable production of food.

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Northern Cape's Namakwa succulents took centre stage with the celebration of International Day for Biological Diversity on Sunday. Biodiversity provides an answer to several sustainable development challenges, from nature based solutions to climate, health issues, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods says Northern Cape Departmental spokesperson Zandisile Luphahla. Luphahla adds biodiversity is the foundation upon which they can build better communities. He says that due to the unique nature of the Namaqualand region, certain plants and animals developed in such a way that they can only be found there and nowhere else in the world. People therefore no longer visit this area solely for the flowers, but also for the unique fauna and flora, adds Luphahla. Some of these succulents are so unique - you find them only in one specific spot in this area.This makes it possible for poachers to steal a whole species of succulents in one go, which has been the case, says Luphahla. Many of these plants are listed as threatened on the South-African Red Data List, Luphahla adds. He further adds that within 5 years, more that 100 plant species in the Richtersveld were placed on the Red Data list of Threatened Species. The poaching of fauna and flora in Namaqualand is just getting worse, explains Luphahla.

OFM News/Tumelo Khota and Lee Simmons