CAPITAL: The Voice of Business Issue 1, 2015 | Page 79

ENACTUS L-R: Luvuyo Gushu (Enactus project manager), Dionne Makuwaza (former Enactus project manager) and Zukile Xelelo are part of the Enactus UKZN team who have been working closely with the Sinwabile co-op. PHOTO: Barry du Plessis. and other growing conditions, potatosack farming is generally held to be more efficient and profitable than conventional farming. This is particularly the case for smaller-scale, non-mechanised farmers in drier, less fertile areas. “Under ideal conditions,” says Enactus student Zukile Xelelo, “one potato plant in a 50 kg sack can produce up to 30 kg of potatoes. The process is also much less water-intensive than conventional farming, as the sack reduces evaporation.” During the rainy season the farmers need not water their plants at all. The sacks also prevent nutrients from leaching out of the soil, allowing the soil to be reused and reducing the amount of fertiliser required. “It’s also easier to deal with fungus and parasites,” continues Xelelo. “They spread more slowly from plant to plant because of the sacks. Because the operation is above ground, it’s easier to inspect the plants and soils, and deal with problems before they spread too much.” After consulting with the co-op members, the students drew up a business plan and set up a strategy for a 12-month pilot project that will end this month. With no capital available, innovative thinking was required to implement the strategy. The co-op had a small piece of land, some seed potatoes, a basic water source, and some motivated participants. Using dung from nearby cattle kraals, they made their own fertiliser to enrich the dry soil, and the Enactus students helped them to source additional fertiliser and fencing materials to keep out the greatest threat to the crop: marauding goats. But the all-important sacks were still missing. In the spirit of acting locally and using what you have, the students, who are based at UKZN’s Pietermaritzburg campus, identified a nearby takeaway, Honchos, as a potential supplier of flour sacks. “We saw that Honchos must use a lot of flour in their bakery, and asked them what they do with the empty flour sacks,” said Capital | Issue 1 | 79