THE Naledi Foundation is inviting young people between the ages of 16 and 25 from Langa, who have an interest in farming and agriculture, to be part of the foundation's agricultural and entrepreneurial initiative, the Ubutyebi Agriculture Project.
The initiative is a three-month project where young people are to start their own garden, urban poultry farm and flowerbed, and grow it to a level where it can deliver nutritious produce.
Participants will be taught farming techniques, agri-business, agri-processing and life skills that will equip them to navigate the contemporary agricultural landscape and economy.
“Naledi Foundation will provide each project participant with garden packs or poultry resources to kick-start their garden or urban farm.
The foundation has invited even those who live in homes with limited spaces such as back rooms, flats and hostels, and the project team and facilitators will use creative and innovative ways for them to have their own gardens, such as vertical gardening,” said the foundation.
Khayelitsha-based farmer Ncumisa Mkabile said initiatives like the Ubutyebi Agriculture Project were a step in the right direction in ensuring that farming becomes a trend for young people and food security.
The “spinach queen” said: “Ubutyebi is a good initiative because we hardly have such initiatives in the townships. Young people should take part in projects like these so they can learn to grow their own at a young age. People also need to understand that growing your own food is a way of making living cheaper and healthier.”
At the end of the three months of gardening and farming, a panel of judges will adjudicate which of the project's gardens or poultry farms or flowerbeds are the best three and winners will be awarded cash prizes of R2 500, R1 500, and R1 000 consecutively.
Any young person interested in taking part in the initiative is requested to send their contact details to [email protected] or send a message to Naledi Foundation's Facebook page.