THE GREEN SLOPE PROJECT - A MODEL FOR AFRICA'S SUSTAINABLE RURAL COMMUNITIES

GreenSlope at this stage is producing conventional vegetables for commercial purposes in the villages on of Swaziland.It has partnered with few rural farmers who own several hectares of land along perennial streams in the country. The business concept is that Greenslope helps the farmers with fencing and with irrigation means and expertise to kickstart the their production then Greenslope buys from these farmers. There are two folds in this strategy: there are farmers contracted to be under the GreenSlope stable and there are independent farmers that would voluntary sell their fresh produce to the company. The GreenSlope model is meant to empower rural farmers to produce high value vegetables ready for the export market, in Mozambique and the Arab World. This model can uplift dozens of thousands of 21st Century African communities to broaden Africa's private sector. The GreenSlope project, as the name denotes, targets farmers along the slopes of perennial streams and rivers. These farmers in many cases they have the will and the zeal to work on those pieces of lands but only to find that they cannot afford fences to protect produce from animals and they are constrained by the approaching winter where livestock are allowed to move about freely and never attended too. Another remedy is to provide water through low cost irrigation means to allow the farmers to produce year round to meet the market demands. GreenSlope have good agriculture personnel to help in the production of quality produce. The GreenSlope project has added the mushroom production for rural homesteads whose land is isolated from the streams and rivers. The project will help those homestead to construct good and up-to-date lowcost cropping houses. This concept will increase reliable market supply and GreenSlope will be responsible for monitoring hygienic standards. The project will also embark on Tunnel Farming, again and roll out that partnership to rural communities. Rural framers in Swaziland can change the face of the private sector. Later the production of baby vegetables will be considered. The project requires and good cold storage facility, a reliable refrigerated truck and competent personnel, mentors, partners, shareholders and investors.