Umgibe Farming Organics and Training Institute
Promoting food security with the climate-smart Umgibe vegetable growing system
Umgibe promotes the idea of a sustainable local food system through the cost-effective and environmentally friendly Umgibe growing system. More than 41 local farmer co-operatives have already received access to the system, and Umgibe offers a platform that enhances farmers’ market access, boosting local income generation.
The enterprise delivers organic products to local communities at a reasonable price, while at the same time protecting the environment. Additionally, the provision of capacity building helps farmers to produce and sell more.
Eco-Inclusive Impacts
Umgibe promotes the idea of a sustainable local food system through the cost-effective and environmentally friendly Umgibe growing system.
- Ensuring the provision of locally grown and healthy food to communities in eThekwini Municipality.
- Developing the community by training community members in organic farming, crop production and food processing.
- Minimizing the physical work related to farming, which benefits youth, elderly and women.
- Protecting the environment through the Umgibe system by using little water, and no chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
- Diverting more than 10,000 plastic bags from landfills by utilising them as growing bags.
- Avoiding carbon emissions by reducing transport activities in local food provision.
- Providing a sustainable source of income for more than 290 families through Umgibe’s 41 partner co-operatives.
- Creating a local market for organic products.
- Generating revenues and a stable market for Umgibe and the partner co-operatives through contracts with hospitals.
Partners
Umgibe Farming Organics and Training Institute supports local farming co-operatives with access to technology, training and markets. The enterprise capacitates urban and small-scale farmers to graduate into commercial business units using Umgibe’s cost-effective and sustainable growing system.
Umgibe Farming Organics and Training Institute developed the patented growing system and supports co-operatives, such as with training and market access.
Use-It, an NGO, supports Umgibe by recovering plastic waste used for growing systems, applying composting solutions and providing training.
HeePD is an NGO partnering with Umgibe to train and employ disabled people in organic agriculture.