COMBINED BASIC SERVICE BACKLOGS SUMMARY
2.10 Agriculture
2.10.3 EThekwini Municipality’s approach to Agriculture
183 have been held with the relevant municipal sector departments and senior management in the municipality to clarify the city’s role and to determine the appropriate institutional arrangements to address these concerns, it being noted that there are already a number of municipal departments currently dealing with different aspects of agriculture (from food gardens to commercial agriculture initiatives) and there is a need to consolidate and integrate these initiatives. The Municipality acknowledges the need to coordinate these initiatives and develop an Agricultural Sector Plan in conjunction with the KZN DAEA and steps are being taken to move forward in this regard.
Furthermore, the protection of high value agricultural land must support the municipality in realising the SDF intentions, namely:
a) To realize its full potential as an economic and industrial hub of KZN and South Africa b) To provide job opportunities to alleviate poverty in KZN as well as accommodate the
increasing demand for housing and higher order social facilities’ arising from in-migration and population growth
c) To demonstrably address food security, grow the economy and increase our contribution to the GDP. For DAEA / DAFF to provide the necessary resources and support to protect agricultural areas. For example the DAEA indicates that grazing land and agricultural land in general needs to be protected by the municipalities but does not provide the resources to undertake land banking for agriculture protected areas (APA).
Although a large percentage of agricultural land has already been lost to non-agricultural land uses, the eThekwini municipality does provide for agricultural activities such as grazing land through commercial agriculture and has introduced different means/strategies and systems to deal with climate change, urbanisation and food security challenges. It is noted that an internationally recognised food security programme (UMbumbulu Agricultural Hub) resides within the Municipality as a viable strategy for urban agriculture. Further food security programmes and urban agriculture should be explored.
184 predominately within the coastal plain and in Buffelsdraai and mixed agriculture around Hazelmere Dam. High value agricultural land is located at Cornubia, west of the R102, between Tongaat and Verulam and within the Buffelsdraai area. Other good agricultural opportunities exist in the Southern Municipal Planning Region within parts of Inwabi, Magabheni/ Umnini and Amahlongwa Rural area.
The protection of agricultural and scenic land abutting the urban areas adjacent to the rural landscape is particularly important. This is often the most valuable land from an agricultural or tourism point of view because of its close proximity to an urban area. It should not be disturbed by piece-meal or leap- frog urban development. Where possible, sufficient arable land within the municipality should be reserved for agriculture in the event of an energy or transport crisis, as well as to promote local economic development and land reform.
Through initiatives such as shifting to new crops which are more resilient to climatic conditions and can meet the demands of an ever growing population, maintaining agricultural land so as to keep it arable, introducing mitigation methods to fight climate change, promotion of sustainable agricultural production, ensuring reasonable food costing as well as introducing and managing community gardens, the Municipality could play a major role in ensuring food security.
A multi-pronged approach is necessary to improve the lives of the people. The key challenges faced include land shortages and ability to identify appropriate opportunities for local production of food.
The Municipality has initiated a number of programmes to assist in the alleviation of food insecurity.
These include the creation of dedicated structures to drive agriculture, aqua and poultry farming; soya bean projects, 20 community support farms; 423 community gardens, mushroom vs hydroponics project, One Home One Garden project, etc. Support in the form of seedlings and compost together with expertise is provided to communities to assist them in ensuring their food security.
In terms of urban and peri-urban agriculture, the Municipality has an Agro-ecology Programme in place which complements other municipal policies which focus on poverty and unemployment. The peri-urban agro-ecology strategy and programmes put in place by the eThekwini Municipality aims at promoting appropriate and sustainable approaches to the way in which agriculture is planned and implemented. Six agricultural support hubs have been established or under development which contain demonstration sites of agro-ecology techniques, a research and development centre on agro- ecology, training sites, a packing and marketing hub and a future seed bank. The hubs are as follows Northdene Agro-ecology research & development Centre, Newlands-Mashu Permaculture Centre, Inchanga, Scorpio Place in Mariannridge, Mariannhill Monastery and Umbumbulu. The programmes primary targets are those with greatest need and where the most impact can be made with limited resources.
There are a number of agri-processing facilities in eThekwini which includes the abattoir at Cato Ridge, the Maidstone Sugar Mill, and the Sappi-Saiccor plant in Umkomaas. The Municipal Fresh
185 Produce Market is located in Clairwood with Farmers Markets located in Tongaat, Verulam and Isipingo. There are three Agri-Hubs in eThekwini Municipality and these are:
UmbumbuluAgriHUB (South)
SterkspruitAgriHUB (Hammersdale/Shongweni)- Outer-west
TongaatAgriHUB (Hambanathi/Greylands) - North
The following map reflects the eThekwini Agriculture Zonal Budget Gardens:
186 Figure 72: eThekwini Agriculture Zonal Budget Gardens
187 2.11 Disaster Management
The eThekwini Municipality is a coastal municipality that accommodates millions of people, includes a port, airport and a major petro-chemical industry that has influence over the rest of the country and southern Africa, should be prepared for any disaster that should arise. In terms of national legislation, the municipality has started planning for the event of disaster by preparing a Disaster Management Plan and is currently undertaking a High Level Disaster Risk Assessment which are hereunder discussed.