Activities

As a response to these challenges, Inhlakulo has 2 approaches. The first one is to approach the individuals/households who raised a need for assistance and identify if they have arable land to plant in their back yards or within our service area. Our organisation provides resources (human resources, basic inputs to the land and partnership skills). Our staff work with the individuals concerned to prepare the land, plant and monitor the growth until harvesting.

This ensures that by the time we leave the site at harvesting, the individuals have the output for part to sell and the rest for their own consumption. On the next cycle, the individuals are left to carry on by themselves with a bit of monitoring. The farm has the capacity to hire at least 10 individuals.

The second approach is based on a piece of land that Inhlakulo has been offered to rent at a discounted rate. The land is approximately 80 000m2. We have support in terms of electricity and rental, however, water resources continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis. This piece of land is located close to the community we need to service as beneficiaries i.e. the land is in Mnandi, Centurion and the communities are Olievenhoutbosch, Glen Austin and Diepsloot.

The beneficiaries who will form part of this, will be part of the teams that prepare, plant, maintain growth, harvest and sell. Inhlakulo will manage the process from end to end. Abba farms CC has committed to take the stock that is on sale as it has a ready market. Similar to those with home gardens, they will also be able to take part of the harvest for their own consumption. This will be managed by the NPO so as to ensure the split between what is sold and consumed is appropriate.

Project output

The proceeds are reinvested to supplement future projects and support with the additional needs of the small-scale farm. Again, involving the members with the volunteers, will assist in passing the skills to the beneficiaries for their own future execution of the same project. This is partly why the margins are not as high as those of a farm operated for profit.

Distribution

The organisation is assisted by other organisations to source the products that need to be secured elsewhere and for distribution. It will become vital to secure more means to distribute more expediently as the nature of our product has a relatively short shelf life and any time lost may be a life lost.

Target group/beneficiaries

Single parents (80% must be women)

Child headed homes.

General unemployed

How is civil society strengthened?

We believe that with the support the business can get, the goals are achievable. The effect of these projects is aimed to be empowerment and creating a mindset that food security is achievable when every individual makes their own contribution. Should such projects be implemented on a national scale it would begin to eat off the food inflation challenge that is mostly felt by the low-income earners/the unemployed.

Evaluation plan

The success of this projects will be determined by the number of households that can be seen actively working independently to create their food security plans and ultimately harvest their own produce or being absorbed into the formal employment by the operations associates since some may not necessarily have their own spaces to plant & produce in. As such, close contact and mentoring will remain key in order to support individuals at the end of the 12 months project.