EU funds projects in regions

THE dormant Kalahari wild silk project in the Omaheke Region has been revived by a N$2,4 million grant from the European Union while a project for small-scale miners in the Erongo Region is supported with N$7,9 million.

“It is the first time we sign grant agreements with regional councils,” said EU Ambassador Dr Elisabeth Pape at the signing ceremony this week. “Thirteen other projects have been signed off with institutions and the few remaining ones will be signed by December 15.The EU has committed 15 million euros (about N$140 million) for 21 projects under the rural poverty reduction programme.””These projects have the potential to help many people to find a route out of the poverty trap,” said Helmut Angula, Director General of the National Planning Commission (NPC).”Let the potential be realised.”According to Omaheke Governor Laura McLeod, the Kalahari wild silk project was started in 1999 and provided 37 jobs, but could not become profitable.These silk products will now be marketed more widely, McLeod said.About 180 rural women in the Leonardville area are to be employed fulltime at the project and 200 more people will collect the cocoons in the veld and get paid per bag.Wild silk is spun from the cocoons of a moth, which are dangerous to livestock and antelopes.When eaten with the grass that it occurs on, the cocoon is dissolved during digestion and the silk threads inside untangle and cause constipation.The small-scale miners project runs under the auspices of the Erongo Regional Council and the grant will increase the income of about 1 600 small-scale gemstone miners.A third grant of N$1,96 million will go to the Namibia Development Trust and will enable fledgling rural co-operatives to be trained so they can prepare business plans for bankable projects.”Thirteen other projects have been signed off with institutions and the few remaining ones will be signed by December 15.The EU has committed 15 million euros (about N$140 million) for 21 projects under the rural poverty reduction programme.””These projects have the potential to help many people to find a route out of the poverty trap,” said Helmut Angula, Director General of the National Planning Commission (NPC).”Let the potential be realised.”According to Omaheke Governor Laura McLeod, the Kalahari wild silk project was started in 1999 and provided 37 jobs, but could not become profitable.These silk products will now be marketed more widely, McLeod said.About 180 rural women in the Leonardville area are to be employed fulltime at the project and 200 more people will collect the cocoons in the veld and get paid per bag.Wild silk is spun from the cocoons of a moth, which are dangerous to livestock and antelopes.When eaten with the grass that it occurs on, the cocoon is dissolved during digestion and the silk threads inside untangle and cause constipation.The small-scale miners project runs under the auspices of the Erongo Regional Council and the grant will increase the income of about 1 600 small-scale gemstone miners.A third grant of N$1,96 million will go to the Namibia Development Trust and will enable fledgling rural co-operatives to be trained so they can prepare business plans for bankable projects.