Umgibe Farming Organics and Training Institute

Promoting food security with the climate-smart Umgibe vegetable growing system
2017 SAG-SEED Award Winner Sustainable Agriculture Durban, South Africa

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.

Multimedia

Partners

This enterprise is supported through its partnerships with various stakeholders, ranging from national and international organisations, investors, research institutes, suppliers, governmental bodies, NGOs, other social and environmental enterprises and more.

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.

SEED Library

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Nonhlanhla Joye
Tel: +27 31 825 0105

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