An agricultural cooperative of six (6) families in Mpumalanga, will for the first time harvest their first crop of sunflowers. The families established the 25 hectares agricultural project, Asilime in Katjibane Village (Chris Hani Section) in the Dr J.S Moroka Local Municipality. Planting of the sunflower grains started in 2022, with the goal of joining the grain value chain by supplying a local mill, Raks Milling.
The cooperative project is part of the Phezukomkhono Mlimi programmes, of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA). It was established to combat hunger and poverty in the province, among the objectives, through agricultural massification.
The cooperative works in collaboration with the Ndzundza Pungutja Traditional Council. DARDLEA provided production inputs, mechanization assistance, extension, and advisory support services to the community initiative, for the realization of the project
