provides us this platform.
“We are helping to demystify some of the
perceptions of farming especially that of a
traditional sector only accessible to those with
high capital, land and infrastructure, years of
experience and knowledge. And what better
way to address this than rooftop farming,”
says Chifunyise.
The Urban Agriculture Project develops the
rooftop farm entrepreneurs by providing
infrastructure funding and support in the
form of business training to assist with how to
operate and manage the farms, and training in
urban farming practices.
An incubation programme with the young
entrepreneurs was hosted in partnership
with local organisation, Wouldn’t It Be Cool
(WIBC), which focuses on developing young
entrepreneurs through innovation.
The Urban Agriculture entrepreneurs
participated in a 3-6 month training
programme after which they present their
business model on how they would solidify
AgriKultuur |AgriCulture
themselves in the market. They are then
provided with the rooftop farm infrastructure
and access to market.
The programme uses hydroponic technology
through which fresh produce is grown in
A-frame shelved racks. Props are used to hold
the plants upright allowing their roots to reach
the nutrient-rich water sitting below them.
The rooftop farms are well equipped to
accommodate all seasonal weather conditions.
Plastic sheet roof tunnels keep the plants
warm in winter and protect them from severe
whether such as storms and hail in the
summer months. The sheets can be retracted
to release heat, if necessary.
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