Welkom's R1.27m paprika factory
Matome Sebelebele
28 November 2003
The lives of residents of Matjhabeng near Welkom in the Free State are to change for the better following the launch of a R1.27-million paprika factory on Tuesday.
Paprika, a sweet reddish pepper, is popular in Europe, the US, Mexico, the Far East and the Middle East.
At least 24 unemployed emerging farmers, all under the age of 35, are currently undergoing training in the factory to enable them to manage production of the pepper, which will eventually be exported to international markets, especially Spain.
The project will be South Africa's second-biggest paprika production line following the launch of a R55-million paprika factory in Springbok in the Northern Cape in March.
Provincial and local government department spokesperson Nomzamo Landingwe said that more unemployed locals would be trained and employed on the production line next year, further relieving poverty among the community.
Landingwe said the council land on
which the project is established has potential for farming other produce, such as vegetables, fruit, fresh flowers and herbs, in an area known for mines, maize, wheat, sunflower and groundnuts.
The project's coordinator, Kabelo Masithela, said funds have been put aside to sustain the project's productive capacity.
Source: BuaNews
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