By Tabisa Mntengwana
14 October 2009

IT'S harvest time at the Mdantsane hydroponics tunnels, given by the City to three co-operatives in the area two months ago.

The first produce is tomatoes, which will be available at local markets early next week. The urban farming initiative was formed in response to the need for viable income-generating projects for unemployed people.

Called the Mdantsane Urban Agricultural Programme, it kicked off early this year. It will not only promote the growth of the farming sector but will also generate jobs during planting, picking and harvesting.

The project is a partnership between Buffalo City; the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme; the provincial department of economic development, tourism and rural development; and the provincial department of agriculture. At least 500 kilograms of tomatoes are ready for consumption.

"The whole purpose of the project is local economic development in previously disadvantaged areas like Mdantsane," said Thembakazi Nqodi, the programme manager for agriculture and rural development.

"The project has employed over 400 people who work closely together in sustaining themselves and promoting local economic development."

At the moment the focus is on tomatoes, but Nqodi has promised that other vegetables such as green peppers and beans will be soon planted "once the City acquires more land, hydroponics equipment and irrigation systems".

A member of one of the co-operatives, Thandile Luthi, said: "The project has helped us hone our skills in gardening, planting and learning more about tunnel farming and managing a business."

Luthi said he was grateful to be part of the project, and he hoped more disadvantaged people in Mdantsane would be employed through it.

The project mentor, Riaan Fourie, a former farmer, said: "The project has empowered so many people in Mdantsane and it's very impressive to see their commitment [to it].

"The tunnel was started from scratch with most members not knowing anything about assembling a tunnel and planting tomatoes, but they learned and showed how much this means to them."

The tomatoes are selling for between R14 and R17 a kilogram; some will be sent to East London Tomato Packers, which supply Pick n Pay and Woolworths.

The hydroponics tunnel is in NU6, next to the Sakhisizwe Mdantsane Nursery; some of the members who work at the tunnel are part of the nursery project. Vegetable seedlings, including tomatoes, green pepper, lettuce, onion, spinach and broccoli, are grown at the nursery.