Johannesburg, 01 Jul 2020
Food security is a priority focus area for countries worldwide. The ability to grow and cultivate organic sources of nutrition has become an even greater concern with the outbreak of COVID-19 and its effect on the farming sector. According to global statistics, by the year 2030, 90% of people living in extreme poverty will be from sub-Saharan Africa. At a time when food production systems are more fragile than ever, farming projects have become increasingly vital in South Africa’s value chain. Working toward sustainable agriculture is an essential part of ending hunger and food insecurity in the long term.
The Matsila Community Development Trust has taken food security to an elevated level, linking farming activities to local job creation and skills development. Headed by Chief Livhuwani Matsila, the various projects within the trust provide much needed economic relief to the residents of the Matsila Village. Chief Matsila is well known for actively exploring opportunities to advance the livelihoods of his constituents through partnerships with the private sector, government and non-governmental organisations.
On 19 June 2020, Macrocomm was honoured to be invited as a guest at the Matsila Village, where boreholes and food parcels were donated to the community. Macrocomm further supported the donations with face masks and hand sanitisers for the villagers.
Macrocomm, an agile IOT solutions company, is pleased to announce the establishment of a partnership with the Matsila Community Development Trust to develop Africa’s first smart farm.
Discussions to convert the Matsila farm into the first fully integrated smart farm in Africa are well under way. Macrocomm has developed tailor-made solutions to improve operational and security functions at the farm. One of the revolutionary solutions offered by Macrocomm is a Smart Remote Monitoring Solution, which will assist in the effective and accurate reading of water levels within the Jojo Tanks in the farm and individual village homes.
Sivi Moodley, CEO at Macrocomm, said: “We are honoured to be given the opportunity to drive technological change in the Matsila village community, which we are certain will uplift and improve the farms daily functionality. This initiative is in support of food security and social empowerment within this community as well as bringing technology and 4IR to the people.”
These sentiments were further reiterated by Chief Livhuwani Matsila of the Matsila Village: “The Smart Made Simple Team has taken community farming to an unprecedented level of technology.”
The Matsila Community Development Trust aims to facilitate socio-economic development and strengthen partnerships between the community, private sector and government.
Share