With the threat of land invasion of any vacant piece of land looming daily in Alex, those eking a living from gardening should also worry about this challenge.
The gardens are on rehabilitated landfill and dumpsites which are part of the few remaining vacant spots.
Their concern may be allayed if they took advantage of an initiative by the Joburg City Council which many in more desperate situations have done and are now agripreneurs through rooftop farming. According to the council, rooftop farming is also a viable alternative for skills and knowledge of feeding families, fending off starvation and unemployment from the most improbable of places. It requires one to think out of the box which Alex residents are urged to do by taking advantage of many rooftops of flats, houses, shacks, government and school buildings, disused factories, spaza shops, taverns and in their yards.
In a statement, the council said one of the shining examples of the initiative is young female agripreneur Mapaseka Dlamini who is among a growing army of urban farmers.
The statements said hers was the second one and on the rooftop of African Housing Company’s Stanop Building in New Doornfontein. The first successful one was launched October last year with a partnership of Joburg Inner City Partnership and other stakeholders.
The initiative is called, Wouldn’t it Be Cool (WIBC). Her ‘farm’ is said to yield bountiful results that guarantee food security, sustainable job creation, education and skills development in the neglected inner city. “Dlamini’s Green Sky rooftop garden is one of the largest rooftop urban farms in the country with over 3 000 gourmet lettuce, herbs, peppers, cucumbers and basil plants using various hydroponic systems,” the statement read adding that she is passionate about transferring the skills and empowering other young women.
She currently employs four female graduates who have expertise in horticulture and agriculture studies. The statement added that Dlamini also plans to transfer skills to people with no formal qualifications or training to help them start their own businesses and benefit from some of the skills and expertise she has gained over the years. “I really love growing food using a combination of traditional and urban farming techniques.”
According to the council, the initiative also meets the need of a growing demand for fresh produce in the inner city. WIBC has identified 55 other potential urban rooftop farmers with 22 currently undergoing a pre-incubation phase of an intensive three-month technical boot-camp. This will be followed by an incubation phase where they will receive business coaching, mentorship, technical support, market access facilitation and bookkeeping support.
Equipment will be provided at the pre-incubation phase end of March to those at Khan Corner, Platinum Place, 120 End Street A, 120 End Street B. “All this, in fulfilment of council’s vision for growing a diverse and competitive economy, job creation, to achieve equality and reduce poverty.” MMC for Development Planning, Reuben Masango lauded the initiative as a huge potential to boost entrepreneurs in the inner city and achieve the City’s economic growth target of 5 per cent in previously ignored areas by 2021.
Details: mediaqueries@joburg.org.za
