WWF Nedbank Green Trust

About the Programme

Establishment of a practical approach to operationalising localised and democratised food economies based on local agencies and small enterprises, through increasing effective access for urban, peri-urban, and rural consumers to safe, fresh, and healthy food produced by the household and small-scale farmers.

This initiative further implements appropriate protocols for food safety, food handling, and human safety to accommodate the pandemic and basic food safety standards.

The programme is progressing well in enhancing local agency and control over food decisions by involving the local community as active agents in the organisation and governance of food production and distribution.

It currently supports approximately 200 homestead gardeners and small-scale farmers throughout the four place-based initiatives. This includes 90 farmers in Johannesburg South and Sedibeng (Gauteng), 39 in Bela-Bela (Limpopo), 22 in eThekwini, 19 in Umgungundhlovu and 29 in uMzinyathi (Kwa-Zulu Natal).

One of the key stand-out elements of the programme is how the envisaged network of producer support and collaboration is already coming into fruition at each of the localities – this was particularly evident when communities experienced food shortages and Seriti’s Community Response programme was able to call on these networks to mobilise and provide local support.

Core Activities

Create a network of producer support and collaboration.
Creation of a tool library for selected farmers in the community.
Training – Smart pockets, seedling production, permaculture, and agri-business development.
Provision of seedlings, irrigation equipment and garden tools and infrastructure to encourage the expansion of household and communal gardens.
Creation of market linkages and agri-businesses within the local communities.