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The United Nations notes that people living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa increased from 290 million in 1990 to 414 million in 2010. The region currently spends more than US$35 billion on food imports per year. It is projected that by 2050, Africa’s population will increase from the current 1.1 billion to 2.4 billion and that two out of every five children globally will be African. Of the challenges currently facing the continent, it is climate change that has dramatically slowed down Africa’s progress towards Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially those related to eliminating hunger and poverty, improving human health and ensuring environmental sustainability.
This project will be implemented in phases; this was the first phase. Phase two will comprise community members, orphanages and old age homes beginning their gardens and maintaining them. The Agri-hub will assist more community members, who will also be taught about hydroponics and how technology has improved the way we grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and they will be assisted to turn these gardens into a source of income within their communities.
A sustainable food and income source for households in DUT’s community is no small thing. The project will teach community members about the importance of growing their organic vegetables and encouraging healthier eating habits. The Agri-hub will facilitate the sale of seedlings to community members to sustain their gardens, teach them about the available methods of growing vegetables, and encourage an entrepreneurial mindset. These community gardens will be turned into lucrative businesses, the project will provide them with the required support structure to help them start and sustain their vegetable businesses, and a platform will be provided for them to sell their products – the fleamarket on campus.
South Africa is a resource-rich country – we have the perfect climate and soil to grow different types of vegetables, and we have a very high unemployment rate. This project will provide community members with the necessary support to create employment. It will encourage people not just to wait to get employed but to create their own employment, and when their businesses grow, they will be able to engage other community members and employ staff. The project will provide them with the necessary support to start and run a sustainable business.
Nontokozo Ngcobo: Centre Manager Email: NontokozoN@dut.ac.za Tel: 033 845 9056
June 2020 till December 2021
R250 000
