July 11, 2008

Zululand OBSERVER

	A first for essential oils uThungulu Mayor Stan Larkan turns the sod with uMlalazi Municipality Mayor MET Magwaza at the Essential Oils project, along with uMlalazi Deputy Municipal Manager Simon Mashabane, Cllr EM Ngema and Chief Whip Mrs QT Xulu STRONG market demand for essential oils has led to an innovative project being launched at Zikotshi, spearheaded by the uThungulu District Municipality. With the sod being turned on Saturday at the official opening, uThungulu District Mayor Stan Larkan confirmed that R100 000 had been ploughed into the project, which is the first of its kind in the community. Larkan added that the initiative indicated the district's drive to improve the quality for life for the Zikotshi community, just outside uMlalazi Municipality. The focus of the project is to boost economic development in the poverty-stricken region. The start-up farmers involved in the new initiative will also be taken on a study tour of a similar project being run in Nkandla and the District's SMME and Tourism LED Facilitator, Gugu Sibisi confirmed that the new farmers would be trained as Co-operatives to help them manage their business. Urging them to work as a team, Sibisi also explained to the community that while essential oils did not need a lot of water, the eradication of weeds should be regularly carried out to ensure that the plants grew well.