By Robyn Joubert
A brand new 300m² hydroponic tunnel donated to the Living Soils Community Learning Farm in Stellenbosch is expected to take their food production into the future, by moving from the outdoors to the indoors.
The R220 000 tunnel was donated by Vegtech Netafim, along with a commitment to provide the farm with high-level support as required.
“The tunnel creates a wonderful growing environment. It is a huge step forward from vulnerable outdoor farming to protecting undercover farming. With climate change, there is unfortunately no way sustainable or rural farmers can succeed without modern technology,” said Vegtech Netafim Managing Director Barney Isralls.
The Living Soils Community Learning Farm is a partnership project between Woolworths, Spier Wine Farm and the Sustainability Institute. It aims to improve long-term food security by providing a space to educate and empower young and emerging farmers, particularly women and youth.
The Vegtech Netafim entry-level plastic tunnel spans 300m² (30m long x 10m wide) and is equipped with a hydroponic irrigation and growing system utilising coir as a growing medium. The tunnel provides a partially controlled environment, giving protection from rain, drought, wind, heat and to some extent excess cold.
This passively controlled environment should enable the farm to extend its growing season of crops, like tomatoes and peppers, from six months outdoors to nine months indoors, while reducing water use, increasing yields and resource efficiency, and promoting sustainability and food security.
Crops are sold, exchanged and donated to organisations that support at-risk children and households.
The tunnel will allow the farm’s agricultural management interns, farm employees and managers to explore advanced agriculture technologies.
“This is an excellent learning opportunity for our interns, who will be exposed to precision agriculture. This will expand their agricultural knowledge and improve their future employment opportunities while directly supporting our mission to grow more food with fewer resources,” said Namhla Skweyiya, Living Soils Community Learning Farm project manager.
There is huge scope for tunnel technology among vulnerable rural communities.
“This entry-level tunnel is a good tool for those who want to get into undercover farming but don’t have the experience, knowledge or capital. The days of farming without technology are over. Farmers are dealing with unpredictable weather, insects, water source and water quality issues. You can’t expect people to grow food without any input of technology,” said Barney, adding that Vegtech Netafim sells thousands of these tunnels to government, NGOs and small farms around the world.
Barney said Vegtech Netafim’s donation was motivated by a desire to help The Living Soils Community Learning Farm succeed: “They do exceptional work within the community and we saw a great need to upgrade their technology. We aim to show how modern farming practices can not only improve productivity but also enhance the quality of life for the people involved.”
