Aquaponics to boost food security and climate resilience among rural communities in South Africa
Non-profit organization Conservation South Africa (CSA) has partnered with US-based Fresh Ministries and their international arm Be The Change Africa to boost food security and tackle rural poverty in South Africa through aquaponics.
Aquaponics has emerged as a climate-smart alternative to traditional agriculture that combines raising fish and growing fresh organic produce all year round using no soil or harmful chemicals and only 2 to 5% of the water.
According to CSA’s climate smart agriculture and food security manager Karen Allan: “Aquaponic technology can change the way we grow food. The model is particularly relevant for water-scarce communities who will be trained to grow and sell fresh produce on demand.”
The organizations have joined forces and registered a social enterprise named Evolutionary Aquaponic Technology and training or EATt Fresh Pty Ltd. The social enterprise will facilitate the commercial sale of fresh produce. Commercial Aquaponic farms and training centres will be built in the Kruger to Canyons Landscape to service the National Kruger Park luxury lodge market and in the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape in South Africa.
The South African pilot is part of an international drive to address issues of hunger, poverty and climate change under ‘the Desmond Tutu Program to End Global Hunger’. The program was launched in New York last month and named in honour of the South African Nobel peace laureate. Other projects are ongoing in the US Virgin Islands and Haiti but this pilot is the first proof of concept in Africa.
“After production begins, the centers will train rural farmers and facilitate the commercial sale of fresh produce to luxury lodges. The centres in South Africa are modelled after successful aquaponics run by Fresh Ministries in the US and the Caribbean.” said Ms. Allan.
Commenting on the initiative, CEO of Fresh Ministries Dr. Robert V. Lee, III and Program Director said: “We will be providing on-site management of the development centers, as well as employing and supervising trainers and business counselors. Our primary goal is to strengthen economic development through the agricultural sector, and to fundamentally transform the lives of local citizens by addressing social and economic challenges that are by-products of food insecurity and poverty.”
