THE FUSE

Agriculture has the power to transform communities by providing nutritious food, creating learning opportunities and improving long-term self-sufficiency. This was demonstrated during a recent outreach initiative by the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA), whose Gert Sibande District officials visited the Damersfontein Child and Youth Care Centre outside Lothair in the Msukaligwa Local Municipality. Working in partnership with the Department of Social Development, the department combined agricultural development with community support to strengthen the centre’s ability to produce its own food. Rather than focusing only on immediate assistance, the initiative invested in sustainable food production systems that will continue benefiting the centre well into the future. The project highlights how agriculture can improve food security while empowering institutions that care for vulnerable members of society.