Tshwane Food and Energy Centre Presentation by the City Sustainability Unit, City of Tshwane to the Gauteng Climate Change Forum 12 th August 2016

Our mandate City Sustainability Unit is charged with developing demonstration projects that are integral to climate change, the green economy, and addressing social vulnerability. In so doing, it aims to remove traditional service delivery silos and promote holistic planning and project conceptualization. City Sustainability Unit is one of two technical units located in the Office of the Executive Mayor responsible for climate change response and facilitation of the green economy, headed up Chief Sustainability Specialist, Dorah Nteo

Project Motivation Economic Growth Locating an income-generating project in an agricultural zone with few economic opportunities, a high rate of unemployment and poverty Local Economic & Social Development Skills development, job creation & entrepreneurship stimulation/SMMEs Greenhouse Gas Emissions Avoidance Use of renewable energy & proximity between work and residence; products and markets; inputs and outputs Building Resilience & Social Inclusivity Locating the project in a highly socially vulnerable area and addressing income & food insecurity Promoting Sustainable Development

Project Location Region 7 lacking investment and development. Region 7 presents good opportunities for agricultural development, a key lever for the City’s economic growth. City of Tshwane owns arable land in proximity of two highly socially vulnerable areas, Rethabiseng and eKangala. Region 7 lacking investment and development. Region 7 presents good opportunities for agricultural development, a key lever for the City’s economic growth. City of Tshwane owns arable land in proximity of two highly socially vulnerable areas, Rethabiseng and eKangala.

Project Concept  25 beneficiaries drawn from Rethabiseng and eKangala to be capacitated to become small-scale BBE farmers (poultry and vegetables) located on 200Ha of City-owned land in Region 7  Each beneficiary equipped with a vegetable tunnel, chicken run and affordable housing  Central farm to facilitate purchase of inputs and sale of product  Market hall as an outlet from the agricultural products (currently primarily local residents)  C|RO Food Stations to facilitate retail of agricultural product  Sustainable service delivery through renewable energy (biogas plant, PV plant, SWHs) and rainwater/groundwater harvesting (avoiding reliance on municipal bulk infrastructure)  Waste-energy nexus – poultry and vegetable waste used as inputs into the biogas plant

Project Stakeholders TFEC Project Board Technical Working Group SMMEs/Beneficiaries City of Tshwane Economic Development Environment Management Services Agriculture Energy and Electricity Office of the Speaker Provincial Government Department of Agriculture National Government Department of Agriculture Beneficiaries Three representatives Implementing Partner Integrated Farming Systems City of Tshwane Integrated Farming Systems Beneficiaries

Project Timelines  July Project conceptualisation  October Project approval by EAC  October 2014 – Environmental Impact Assessment initiated  May 2015 – Project Implementation commenced  April 2016 – Project launched  First six chicken runs operational by launch with 1000 chicks per run per cycle (6 weeks)  First ten vegetables tunnels planted with lettuce, spinach, cabbage, cucumber  Biogas and PV plants constructed  Central farm constructed  Market hall structure erected (functional end of July 2016)

Tshwane Food and Energy Centre launched on 12 April 2016

Construction Construction began in May Labour was sourced from the local community. Skills developed included bricklaying, fencing, steelworks. 64 work opportunities were created during the construction process.

Capacity-Building & Mentorship Emerging agricultural activities required sustained and ongoing training Beneficiaries were taken on a two-week training course on farming and business development. Mentorship is provided by an Agri-SETA accredited service provider.

Core agricultural activities The core agricultural activities include chicken farming and crops. Each homestead is equipped with a chicken run and vegetable tunnel.

Central Farm: coordination of agricultural activities The presence of the Central Farm negates the risk of economic failure by achieving economies of scale through coordination Role of Central Farm: Coordinate the purchase of farm inputs (seedlings, chicks, feed, compost etc.) Once outputs (mature chickens & vegetables) are ready for market, central farm organizes slaughtering, packaging, storage, transportation Coordinate sales and offtake agreements

Vegetable farming Beneficiaries each received a 300m 2 vegetable tunnel and are growing lettuce, spinach, cabbage and cucumber

Poultry farming Each beneficiary received a chicken run that has a maximum capacity of 2,500 chicks – currently each beneficiary receives 1,000 chicks for a 6 week cycle

Renewable Energy Developing the project off the grid was a priority and achieved through a blend of PV panels, biogas digester and solar water heaters

Renewable Energy The biogas digester relies on organic feedstock supplied by a sorghum plantation and agricultural waste (chicken and vegetable waste).

Sustainable Water and Sanitation  No reliance on bulk municipal services  Boreholes drawing groundwater  All structures equipped with a rainwater tank, solar water heaters and bio-sceptic tanks

Project Achievements  Contributing to food sovereignty through ready supply of fresh vegetables and free range chickens at affordable prices  Commercial viability of project evident through vegetable and chicken sales:  Private sales by individual farmers  3 C|RO Food Stations have in Rethabiseng, Zithobeni and Refilwe  Balance of vegetables to the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market  Demonstration of Green Neighbourhood principles  Renewable energy, groundwater and rainwater harvesting, bioseptic tanks  Employment creation  25 farmers and 64 work opportunities created during the construction phase