Posted on 06/11/2018 5:18:51 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The modern day aquaponic system, which has its roots in South China and Southeast Asia, is rapidly gaining in popularity.
Here on home soil, an aquaponic farm in the rolling hills of Ndwedwe, which was established by a group of big-hearted Durban University of Technology (DUT) students back in 2016, continues to thrive.
From subsistence farming in rural areas, to large-scale commercial farming in peri-urban areas, as well as vertical and indoor farming by hobbyists to feed neighbours and beautify urban spaces, when it comes to aquaponics, the possibilities are endless.
Situated in the Noodsberg community, the project came about as a partnership between international non-profit organisation Enactus and the Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of the global automaker.
Every year, Enactus and Ford call on universities and colleges around South Africa to design innovative, student-led projects that address critical community needs.
Guided by academic advisors and business experts, participating Enactus students develop the kind of perspective and skills that are essential to leadership in an ever-challenging world.
We can have these innovative concepts and ideas, but without sponsorships they would never be realised, said Luvo Gugwana, Enactus DUT President, who has led the KZN aquaponic farming project since its inception two years ago.
Aquaponics in a nutshell
Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (the soil-less growing of plants).
This form of agriculture produces both crops and fish in a self-contained system.
The fish waste provides food for the plants, and the plants filter the water for the fish.
Vegetables grown in aquaponic systems are organic and pesticide free, and are said to have better flavour and a longer shelf-life than vegetables grown in hydroponic systems or in soil.
Once they reach a certain age or size, the fish can be sold unprocessed on the informal market, or gutted and gilled and sold on ice to retailers and restaurants.
Gugwana and his team set up three aquaponic systems for Philani Ngcobo, the beneficiary of the project, who always had a passion for agriculture, but was beset with challenges which prevented him from realising an increase in his crop yield.
Although start-up costs for an aquaponic system can be high, the running and maintenance costs are relatively low.
Each of the aquaponic systems is composed of a fish tank and the growing mediums, explains Gugwana.
Each fish tank can accommodate at least 300 fish. And we have two types of growing mediums: the one with clay balls, and the other one with floating rough systems. In the one with the clay balls, we grow heavy plants like cabbages. In the floating rough systems we grow lightweight plants like lettuce.
In 2017, we did a recycling drive to collect empty two-litre plastic bottles to construct a second greenhouse.
We also use recycled plastic drums, and PVC pipes for vertical farming.
We use organic compost where we grow tomatoes. And each drum can accommodate more than 80 crops.
In honour of World Environment Day on 5 June and Youth Month in June, Ford would like to commend the efforts of the Enactus DUT students on their continued success with this project, says Dudu Nxele, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.
We hope to see their wonderful work replicated in other areas, and the continued upliftment of our communities.
The clock is ticking on South Africa. Whites and industrious members of other racial/ethnic groups, should make their plans to escape. The country is in a downward spiral. Eventually South Africa will end up like Zimbabwe. There will be no place for civilized peoples, as feral groups will dominate, and the government will be overthrown or radically changed, to a system in which some strongman rules by decree.
FR threads for the past 6 months report severe water shortage in S Africa.
The water shortages existed mostly in the south of the country. My mother in law had water trucked in to fill her pool. Recent rains have brought some relief.
I know that currently about 50 S Africans are working as laborers at fish farming in Mississippi. They have reputations as being hard workers. The US govt gave them no support or breaks (unlike most temp workers) nor did they expect any.
S Africans would be productive employees if ever allowed to enter the US—but not likely since most that would seek such an opportunity to better their situation would be whiteys.
“which has its roots in South China and Southeast Asia,”
Who in their right mind would ever eat fish from China? these farms are suppose to be so polluted. Is S.A. gonna do it better?
Ha ha, when the fish run out, they'll eat your type first!
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