Phumulani Agri-village Food Garden project phase two commences – Belfast Mine
Emakhazeni:The Phumulani Agri-Village Food Garden (PAVFG) is an operating prototype with key objectives such as creating decent sustainable jobs, improving food security, and stimulating the economy of the village. The project sets to achieve a better and more sustainable future for community members of Phumulani Agri-Village by targeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 Zero Hunger and 17 Partnerships to achieve the goal.
In 2023, Phase 2 of the project commenced, and in addition to the two greenhouses erected and producing vegetables, a wormery, biogas, and poultry section has been added to continue the creation of an ecosystem of agricultural productivity. This has also meant another opportunity for training and employment for four individuals within the Village, who are now equipped with skills and the ability to provide for their families. PAVFG currently employs 14 beneficiaries who have all received cross-training in poultry and vegetable gardening.
The project developed a wormery that uses food waste into nutritious plant food which can be used in the project or sold to other gardens for extra income to the business. This food waste, consisting of crop residue and kitchen waste can be used to create biogas through anaerobic digestion which the team constructed and is currently operating an 8m3 biogas plant for a food garden. The purpose of this plant is to achieve the following for the garden project:
• Renewable energy generation – mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by capturing methane which would be released into the atmosphere
• Agricultural sustainability – promoting a circular economy and sustainable agriculture practices, such as efficient waste management
• Economic sustainability – waste collection, plant operation, and biogas supply chains can be established to generate income for locals
The project also succeeded to implement poultry farming beginning in May 2023, with chickens reared as layers, primarily for fresh egg production and selling. This initiative is a quick win as it guarantees a quick turnaround for income and employment and is the most common source of protein required for better health.
“Exxaro is about creating growth and sustainable communities that will be able to provide for themselves and their families in Emakhazeni Local Municipality. This is one of our strategies to empower our relocated community to ensure that it is well-sustained and self-sustained. We are so thrilled to see the families partake in these projects and take them seriously. It brings us pleasure and comfort to know that the projects have started to generate income” alludes Belfast Coal Business Unit Manager Musa Mabasa.
The purpose of poultry production is to provide local consumers with fresh vegetables and eggs at a reasonable price and contributes directly to the socio-economic well-being of the community.
With this initiative, sustainable practices will be seen through poultry litter providing a natural source of nitrogen to improve the physical and biological fertility of the soil, and with naturally acquired and basic training beneficiaries can exchange skills and create backyard productions for themselves.
The service provider (Siyakhana) assisting with PAVFG continues to secure markets that the project can continuously produce to maintain sustainable income generation.
Furthermore, during the 2023 year, the project seeks to focus on growing a sustainable project, gender mainstreaming, providing beneficiaries with new skills in farming and Agri-processing, and assisting the 32 households in Phumulani with backyard gardens.
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