PRETORIA – FOR almost ten years, life was unbearable for John Mabaso.

Without a source of income fending for his family was a difficult task.

His fortunes have changed considerably thanks to the establishment of the Tshwane Food and Energy Centre, said to be the first ever Agropolitan Village.

The City of Tshwane has launched the centre in Bronkhorstspruit, 50 kilometres east of Pretoria.

“This is a great initiative by the City of Tshwane because it has created employment for me,” says Mabaso.

“I can now look after my children through proceeds from here where I rear chickens.”

Another beneficiary, Jessica also had a familiar story to about unemployment.

Lefe was almost hopeless until the establishment of the food and energy centre.

“I’m rearing poultry and this has helped me look after my three children. I was unemployed but now I find myself busy with this exciting work,” says Motau.

The R40 million Tshwane Food and Energy Centre, which started operating late last year, is aimed at boosting food and energy security.

The project sits on a 200-hactres plot and will thrive on livestock production and energy security through the establishment of a photo-voltaic solar power plant and reuse of livestock organic waste as feedstock for renewable energy production (biogas).

The concept relies on the establishment of a central farm that both serves as an active farm for livestock production, as well as a business support hub delivering agricultural extension services.

Pretoria Mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, says the centre will contribute towards renewable energy generation through solar and biogas plants, urban food production, small enterprises development, mployment creation and social cohesion.

“In addition, this important project will also contribute towards restoring the dignity of displaced farmers in the Bronkhorstspruit and Cullinan areas of the capital city and will serve to re-ignite an interest in

agriculture and agro processing into the future,” says Ramokgopa.

Some 25 local people from the nearby Rethabiseng township work in the village.

The locals, who have received formal training in planting vegetables and becoming chicken farmers, work and reside at the village.

The project is a mayoral flagship project that will assist the city in its transition towards being a low carbon, resource efficient and climate resilient city.