While South Africa is technically food secure, access to nutritious food remains an issue affecting 18 million households. Food security is further exacerbated by climate change and soil erosion. In South Africa, approximately 61 million hectares of land is classified as having a moderate to severe potential risk of soil erosion. That is about half of the country’s entire surface area. “Increasing soil erosion and infertile soil makes it hard for South Africans to grow their own food. I believe that hydroponic farming systems offer an innovative and sustainable solution to growing food on both a subsistence level and commercial,” says Khuboni.
It was during academic research that Banothile gained a deeper understanding of food security in South Africa. The more she understood and learned about the impact of climate change on food systems, the more she desired to do something about it and become active. Hence, the reason why she joined Oribi’s #FoodSystem Incubation program.
For the past year, Banothile’s NPC has been running a pilot at Mqhawe Secondary School in KZN, where she set up her first hydroponic stations, to grow organic vegetables such as spinach and lettuce, and to educate and train students. “I wholeheartedly believe that it is beneficial for our youth to learn about hydroponic systems. These systems are an excellent way to combat issues connected to climate change and droughts as they require very little space, little water, and no soil. We don’t only teach our students how to operate these systems, we also allow them to feel the pleasure of growing their own nutritious food,” says Khuboni. “After completing Oribi’s incubation program, I received a grant that enabled my social enterprise to grow and set up a second hydroponic system at another school, Waterloo Secondary School in KZN. Here I am planning to produce 240 fresh green leafy organic vegetables within an approximately 30 day cycle.”
“Hydroponics, especially organic methods, remain relatively novel in South Africa. Our journey with Banothile has been profoundly enlightening as we, an incubator focused on nurturing social enterprises within South Africa’s expansive food system, have witnessed her remarkable growth. Throughout the incubation process, Banothile faced the challenge of limited resources in organic hydroponics. Despite this, she persevered, using her inaugural hydroponic system as a platform for trial and error. We are hoping that the grant will empower her to translate her acquired knowledge into tangible implementation,” says Nthakoana Maema, CEO at Oribi in Cape Town.
Through her dual operations, Banothile endeavours to cultivate organic produce for profitable sale at market rates. Simultaneously, her non-profit company is dedicated to inspiring individuals to cultivate their own produce. This includes imparting essential skills through dedicated stations established in local schools. “We utilise our hydroponic stations not just to educate young minds but also to demonstrate the simplicity of cultivating fresh produce at home. Our approach involves repurposing recycled plastic bottles,” explains Banothile, who also offers a service that includes the setting up of hydroponic stations.
The next step she aims to focus on is accessing the retail market in South Africa. “Retail has a certain demand that we have to meet. At the moment, we are looking at ways to team up with suppliers,” says Banothile.
In the realm of selling organic vegetables, Banothile faces a challenging landscape, mirroring the struggles of many small-scale farmers across South Africa who grapple with accessing markets. The prevailing food system notably disadvantages smaller enterprises due to price fluctuations and volatility in fresh produce pricing, a predicament exacerbated by escalating food costs.
Banothile’s immediate focus therefore lies in securing buyers for smaller volumes of organic produce in Durban. Her strategic vision extends to the Western Cape, where she plans to expand her hydroponic initiatives by establishing additional stations. To realise this goal, she actively seeks collaborative partners capable of offering suitable locations.
