DEPARTMENT PRODUCES MUSHROOM FARMERS

The KZN Department of Transport's poverty alleviation programme Zibambele is taking a new turn as its savings club initiative is already producing future business women. Zamokuhle Savings Club members have already made their fourth harvest of mushrooms. The female members of Zamokuhle are part of the Zibambele programme and have started mushroom farming at their Dindi Farm in Vulindlela, outside Pietermaritzburg. They say while this business is a dawn of hope for them, they still need to market their produce to the public.

The club's chairperson Phumzile Thabethe, said the project was started in March this year and the first harvest was made in just two weeks. "We were also amazed by the quick growth of these mushrooms. We are grateful that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has partnered with their provincial counterparts in the Department of Agriculture and facilitated this project."

Zamokuhle which comprises twenty women is expecting to increase its numbers as the project expands. Currently, their nursery has twenty mushroom beds, each measuring approximately three by one metres. Anyone interested in helping this emerging business to realize its goals may contact Philisiwe Qwabe on 076 669 5958.

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