AN Italian delegation was in town last week to promote urban farming and explore progress at the Mdantsane hydroponics projects, which the Europeans are interested in assisting.

The visitors were in Buffalo City, on 14 and 15 April, specifically with funding these projects in mind. Speaking to the City's officials, the delegation's representative, Stephania Spaperi, said: "We are pleased to see the progress in the projects. Our objective to fund the projects is based on [their] success."

Part of the visit was to share information on programmes in Italy and Buffalo City, and Spaperi said her group would see that all technical expertise for the Mdantsane projects was met, including managing, public planning and participation.

Buffalo City piloted the projects in Mdantsane's NU6, NU12 and NU18 after an urban farming strategy was drawn up some three years ago. For the pilot, it provided land and tunnels for hydroponic farming to three co-operatives in the township.

According to a 2007 City report, it began formulating its Integrated Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy (IARDS) in 2006. The IARDS looked at suitable farming options for urban areas – tunnel farming, hydroponics and high-value crops were mooted because of the limited natural resources in urban areas.

Successful hydroponic farming was possible in Mdantsane, the strategy found.

According to the report, the committee that undertook the study also agreed that the pilot should start in the chosen areas and that there should be on-going groups involved in urban agriculture in Mdantsane.

Farming is not the only activity at the pilot projects. Speaking to the Italian delegation, the City's programme manager for agriculture and rural development, Thembakazi Nqodi, said: "The tunnels are used for training and mentoring of other agricultural co-operatives within the municipality."

The municipality's overall objective was to add to its capacity to support and sustain community-driven development, she added.

"Buffalo City also wants to contribute towards the enhancement of local development and the building of self-reliance [in its] communities."

It was hoped that the agricultural co-operatives would provide crops and produce to established supermarkets. Already the projects had employed at least 400 people from Mdantsane. "We are hoping to add to that number as time goes by, and depending on funds."

The co-operatives plant tomatoes and have a nursery for various crops, including green peppers, potatoes, brinjals and lettuce. "The members also have a mentor who gives them advice on their produce and other agricultural skills," she said.