Harvesting underutilised urban spaces for sustenance

Innovator turns rooftop into a veggie garden

- By Staff Reporter

Commercial female farmer Zandile Kumalo has won the prestigious Agrivuno Award 2025 for her role in running hydroponic farms.

The visionary Kumalo owns two impactful agribusinesses: HyHarvest and Neighbour Roots. Through her innovative farms, she transforms underutilised urban spaces into productive green hubs supplying fresh, local produce.

Starting with a 2000m² backyard, Zandile now leads in climate-smart, circular farming, and her work has been recognised nationally.

“We grow, harvest and distribute premium-quality vegetables to restaurants and retail markets across urban centres. We operate two innovative climate-smart hydroponic farms, one strategically located on the rooftop of Morningside Shopping Centre and the other at Riversquare Shopping Centre.