One of South Africa’s largest faith-based NGO’s is taking an innovative approach to poverty alleviation and food security by launching an orchards project for the benefit of the poor and needy.

The project is a Fruit Tree Waqf (public trust or endowment) which will officially be launched at the end of September 2009.

The project is consistent with the highly acclaimed permaculture system. It is an initiative which uses natural practices, particularly in agriculture, to build sustainable communities. The idea is to move away from a reliance on industrial development towards more natural development. The reduction of poverty and ensuring environmental sustainability are two of the eight UN Millennium Development Goals.

The origins of the orchard project lie in an innovative Arbor Week initiative undertaken by SANZAF. Last year on September 3, SANZAF and various partners, including AwqafSA, planted 2500 fruit trees in Lehae township, an RDP community south of Johannesburg. The fruit trees not only enhanced the appearance of the township, but also empowered the community which is the beneficiary from the proceeds of the fruit borne by the trees.

The success of the Lehae event attracted many more donors than originally anticipated and donations continued to pour in for similar initiatives. One donor sponsored 1097 trees. SANZAF increased this number to 1150 and, with the support of additional donors, expanded the project to its national base.

Up to ten families, comprising the poor and needy living near the orchard, will be selected to accept responsibility for planting and nurturing the trees. When the trees bear fruit the selected beneficiaries will be entitled to consume the fruit themselves and realise its commercial potential. This includes benefits from home industries such as the production of preserved fruit, dried fruit or honey.  

Volunteers from a school plant a tree in the yard of a resident in Lahea township, an RDP settlement south of Johannesburg. A total of 2,500 trees were planted on this occasion on 03 September, coinciding with Arbor Week 2009.