Agricultural initiative to create jobs for the Midrand community
Food security, agriculture and job creation were the topics of discussion between residents, businesses and the City of Johannesburg.
The City of Johannesburg hosted an event at Carlswald Deco Centre to raise awareness about urban agriculture and agro–processing among the Midrand community.
The initiative brought together several city departments and stakeholders, including Social Development, Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (Crum), the Joburg Market, the Joburg Opportunities Centre, the Agricultural Research Council, and local agri–businesses.
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The event invited residents and local agricultural businesses to learn how they can preserve food and create jobs through urban agriculture and agro–processing.
Deputy director of the Food Resilience Unit, Simon Motsusi, explained the different programmes introduced alongside the awareness campaign.
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“We started encouraging members of the community to establish what we call backyard gardens. That is where we provide them with tools to start gardens in their homes. That interest grew into what we call communal gardens, where members of the community started gardening on any open space along the road.
“This grew so much that some communities would turn dumping sites into vegetable gardens. From those gardens, members of the community were able to produce fresh vegetables for their families. They started selling these, which created an income for them,” added Motsusi.
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While tackling food security, the city also sought to educate residents about job opportunities within the urban agriculture and agro–processing sectors.
Community members, including the ward councillor, attended in numbers and welcomed the initiative.
Residents explored exhibition stalls, sampled products, and engaged with exhibitors to learn more about food production, nutrition, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Noordwyk resident Mapuleng Mofokeng–Moatshe said the event provided valuable insight into healthier food choices.
“What I learned today is that processed food is not always beneficial to our health, even though it is easily accessible. Organically produced food is a better option for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The event was very informative and taught us different ways to improve our health through the food we eat.”
The awareness campaign fostered a sense of development and growth for the Midrand community and local businesses.
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