Online Reporter
Online Reporter
The Epworth Local Board has partnered a Swedish firm, Lantmatriate, in constructing a modern farmers’ market in the suburb.
The planned state-of-the-art market will comprise refrigerators to store farm produce, shades, water supplies and hygienic ablution facilities.
Safe lockers and a high security fence will also be put at the new market.
Lantmatriate specialises in land management, spatial planning and land valuation.
Epworth Local Board town secretary Dr Wilton Mhanda described the initiative as a milestone that is in line with the council’s objective of achieving town status soon.
“In a calculated move, after a lot of consultations, the Epworth Local Board has engaged a Swedish company in the construction of a new farmers’ market in Epworth, a development which will help improve our infrastructure as we target to attain a town status soon,” said Dr Mhanda.
The Swedish firm recently invited some officials from the local board to Sweden to undergo training in land management, spatial planning and land evaluation to help the local authority spearhead infrastructure development projects.
Dr Mhanda said the new farmers’ market will go a long way in improving the livelihoods of Epworth residents as employment and trade opportunities will be created.
The availability of refrigerators, he added, will be additional advantage to traders as their produce will remain fresh.
“The new farmers market is an achievement in terms of job creation; thousands will make a living from this project, and this will reduce poverty in our area,” Dr Mhanda said.
Overall, the project is expected to empower many youths in Epworth, as well as help reduce drug and substance abuse.
