Hammanskraal: cultivating sustainability and empowering communities
Originally published on 18 July 2024
Near the Dinokeng Game Reserve, a new smart farm is growing crops and helping the local community of Hammanskraal. This is thanks to a partnership between World Wildlife Fund (WWF) South Africa and Inqaba Biotec.
What was the problem?
The Hammanskraal community, near the Dinokeng Game Reserve, faces common problems of a peri-urban area. These include high unemployment, poor sanitation and limited clean water. The need for sustainable development and community upliftment was clear.
How did they solve it?
Inqaba Biotec and WWF South Africa started a smart farm project on a 122-hectare plot near the reserve. This project follows the One Health approach, which connects the health of people, animals and the environment. The farm uses agro-ecological methods to cut waste, use resources well and improve the lives of local people.
So, how did they do it?
- The farm received new center-pivot irrigation systems, tractors and tools to support sustainable farming.
- They recruited community members interested in farming and trained them in agro-ecological practices.
- A five-day training taught participants about permaculture and climate-smart farming.
- The farm has contracts to supply green beans to McCain and groundnuts to the food industry, helping local farmers reach markets.
- The farm focuses on youth empowerment. Young trainees get stipends and can manage their own planting tunnels.
Acknowledgements
Author: Tanya Faber
Original article: A Smart Farm Springs Up and Empowers Locals
Photograph: Tanya Faber
Get your community involved
Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.
Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.
Know your rights – how local government works
It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.
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