Twenty young agripreneurs from Diepsloot township in Johannesburg are being equipped to run revenue-generating micro-farming enterprises through innovative Hydro-Coop units designed for urban, rural and remote communities with limited infrastructure.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
The group, made up of 19 young women and one young man living with a disability, forms part of the newly launched Green Acres Hydro-Coop programme at Afrika Tikkun’s Green Acres Farm in Diepsloot.
According to Afrika Tikkun, the initiative seeks to address two pressing challenges facing the continent – persistently high youth unemployment and declining local food production – by transforming unemployed youth into micro-farming entrepreneurs.
The programme is funded and supported by E Squared Investments, which views small-scale agritech as a viable pathway for young people to earn an income, build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to food security and local economic growth.
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Innovative Farming System
The Hydro-Coop unit is a smart farming system that combines poultry production with hydroponic vegetable cultivation. The solar-powered units are compact, mobile and designed to operate in areas with limited infrastructure while using significantly less water than conventional farming methods.
Crops are produced using sustainable, biodiversity-friendly practices, allowing participants to gain practical exposure to innovative agricultural technologies and production systems.
The pilot programme began in February, with participants entering a practical development phase that combines technical training with live business operations. Since then, the cohort has received training in hydroponics, farm management and entrepreneurship while simultaneously establishing their own micro-enterprises.
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Building Businesses Beyond the Farm Gate
Over the first three months of the 12-month programme, participants have progressed from training into early-stage entrepreneurship, learning not only how to produce food but also how to operate commercially viable businesses.
To strengthen market access, Afrika Tikkun has partnered with Garden Fresh at Nine Yards and other retail outlets to market produce grown through the programme.
Participants will also gain practical experience in sales and customer service through a customer-focused retail space linked to the initiative.
If production targets are achieved, the 20 enterprises are expected to collectively produce annually:
- 22 400 chickens
- 60 000 vegetables
- Approximately 228 000 meals
- Water savings of up to 1.5 million litres
Marc Lubner, Group CEO of Afrika Tikkun, said mentorship and long-term support are critical in helping young people see agriculture as a sustainable career and business opportunity.
“When skills development is combined with long-term mentorship, farming stops being just a chore and becomes a sustainable career. These youth aren’t just farming for today; they are building the businesses of tomorrow, and it’s up to us to make sure that path remains accessible for them,” he said.
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Women Driving Agripreneurship
Lubner said the first intake was intentionally structured as an almost all-female cohort, aimed at supporting women who often face limited access to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
“This focus reflects a wider economic reality. Women, particularly younger women, face higher unemployment rates, lower business ownership levels and weaker access to startup capital than their male counterparts,” he said.
Rather than creating temporary employment, the project is designed around ownership and long-term enterprise development.
“Agriculture can be a powerful engine for jobs, entrepreneurship and community growth. By giving young people access to infrastructure, practical training and market opportunities, we are helping them build viable businesses and long-term income. At the same time, we are strengthening local food security and creating a model that can be scaled to reach many more young people in the years ahead,” Lubner added.
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From Learnership to Independent Farming
The Green Acres Hydro-Coop initiative forms part of Afrika Tikkun’s broader agricultural development programmes, which integrate training, enterprise development and commercial operations to create sustainable income-generating opportunities.
One of the programme’s success stories is Debra Dagada, who completed an NQF Level 2 qualification in Plant Production through the organisation’s agricultural learnership programme in Gauteng.
After completing the programme, Dagada transitioned into entrepreneurship through Green Acres and launched her own farming operation with starter inputs, mentorship and technical support. She later secured land at Northern Farm in Diepsloot, successfully moving from trainee to independent farmer.
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Scaling the Hydro-Coop model
Service provider UrbanFarm Africa, a South African agritech and smart food systems business involved in the initiative, says it has implemented 271 smart farming projects, trained more than 7 500 people and helped participating farmers generate R250 million over five years.
Zakiya Khan, Head of Investments: Social Entrepreneurship at E Squared Investments, said the organisation supports practical and sustainable solutions that create real economic participation for young people.
“What stands out in this model is its focus on enabling young people to participate meaningfully in the economy; not just through skills development, but through ownership and the ability to generate income over time,” she said.
Afrika Tikkun plans to introduce another cohort of 20 participants in 2027, with the long-term goal of expanding the Hydro-Coop model into more communities across South Africa.
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