eThekwini agro-ecology hubs to assist farmers

A new project in eThekwini aims to focus on creating sustainable projects and food security

- Jyothi Laldas

Food sovereignty for all eThekwini residents and the development of a thriving urban agro-ecology sector is the driving force behind the eThekwini Municipality’s Agro-Ecology Unit and Hubs.

The eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal covers an area of 2 555km2, stretching from Umkhomazi in the south up to Uthongathi in the north and Cato Ridge in the west, and is home to approximately 3,7 million people.

The municipality serves 110 wards, 68% of which are peri-urban or rural and historically under development.

The city’s Agro-Ecology Programme, which forms a key part of the Community and Emergency Services Cluster, is promoting sustainable approaches to the way in which agriculture in eThekwini is planned and implemented.

The vision of the agricultural programme is food sovereignty and the development of a thriving urban agro-ecology sector that significantly contributes to the health and well-being of eThekwini residents, small-grower driven agriculture, local economies, skill development and rural regeneration, environmental sustainability, and the sustainable use of natural resources.