Gatyana, Eastern Cape – The AmaXhosa Kingdom, in partnership with the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), will launch a landmark Rural Economic Development and Youth Employment Programme on 11 April 2025 at Nqadu Great Place under the Mbhashe Local Municipality.
The initiative aims to revolutionize the rural economy by cultivating industrial hemp across 12,000 hectares, generating income through carbon credit markets, biochar production, and climate-smart farming. Over the next 18 months, the programme is set to create 7,000 job opportunities.
Targeting youth, women, and smallholder farmers, the project will provide hands-on training in green economy skills and climate-resilient agriculture, with a strong emphasis on restoring degraded land.
The programme aligns with key government policies, including the Climate Change Act (22 of 2024), Carbon Tax Act (15 of 2019), and the District Development Model, positioning it to attract climate finance and spark public-private partnerships.
The launch will be led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, along with national and provincial leaders, and traditional authorities. Media are invited to cover the event.
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