Aquaponics facility boosts food security in Joburg
JOBURG – The commercial-sized, 225m² facility aims to produce up to two tons of various greens and about 1.9 tons of freshwater fish annually to supplement the nutritional needs of Soweto primary school learners who are nutritionally at risk.
The City of Johannesburg launched a new aquaponics facility to give school food gardens a high-tech twist.
The facility was launched in Orlando West, south of the city.
The aquaponics growing method harnesses hi-tech cultivation techniques to produce up to 10 times the quantity of fish and fresh produce but uses between 80 and 90 per cent less water than traditionally cultivated plots.
Aquaponics combines fish farming (aqua-culture) with hydroponics, growing plants in enriched water rather than soil.
MMC for Health and Social Development, Mpho Phalatse, took key stakeholders to view the facility which is the second to be established in South Africa.
The City said this came as a result of a four-year programme funded by Mondelez International Foundation and delivered by Inmed Partnerships for Children at a cost of R37 million.
The commercial-sized, 225m² facility aims to produce up to two tons of various greens and about 1.9 tons of freshwater fish annually to supplement the nutritional needs of Soweto primary school learners who are nutritionally at risk.
Phalatse described the aquaponics system as a gift especially as the country marked National Nutrition Week.
“What better way to celebrate this week than to give this precious gift of nutrition that will be sustainable, consistent, guaranteed and will benefit this community. It will feed not only this community but the next generation if they look after it,” she said.
The vegetables produced at the aquaponics facility will be used to feed the community, feed surrounding schools, orphanages and patients who visit the Elias Motsoaledi Clinic, situated next to the aquaponics facility.
“One of the challenges identified by the City is that some patients who visit the clinic do not have access to nutritious diets which affects their ability to take their medication,” Phalatse said.
She hoped that the aquaponics facility in Mzimhlophe would also create employment for the community.
“Mzimhlophe has an employment rate of 37 per cent and faces the triple burden of poverty, inequality and high unemployment. The facility will go a long way in curbing malnutrition, improve food security and create a source of income for the community.”
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