Impacts

Umgibe Farming Organics is a small-scale agricultural development enterprise that aims to build and support thriving agricultural cooperatives of smallholder and women farmers, that are able to produce and sell sustainable quality agricultural products, by providing individuals with access to the Umgibe Farming System, Umgibe Co-Operative Network, Agricultural Production and Processing; as well channels and access to market. Our impact is experience by the over 40 co-operatives in our network and the thousands of people trained in our programme. We also provide sustainable employment to our support partners. We take great pride in educating young and old on the benefits of organic farming.

Umgibe System

The Umgibe System is a patented, frugal innovation conceptualized by Umgibe founder, Nonhlanhla Joye. The system was conceived through necessity and has evolved over the years, from a wooden structure into a recyclable, agroecological tool that supports new economy principles and the circular economy.

About The Founder (Nonhlanhla Joye)

Umgibe is a story of Ma’ Joye who was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 as a result she could not work to provide food for her family. She decided to grow organic vegetables in her backyard. Unfortunately, the chickens ate all her vegetables, needless to say she was devastated, but as a woman she had to come up with a solution. She innovated a growing system that enabled her to grow vegetables using diversified plastic bags from going to the landfills as growing bags. Armed with his solution Umgibe provided the much-needed protection from the chickens but it did not end there it saved water and fed the family as well as neighbors who started buying the surplus produce. Before long Ma Joye was teaching other community members to grow nutritious vegetables.The story that began with pain has now paved the way for the hundreds of families. A platform was born where poor communities started growing vegetables to feed themselves and collectively sell their surplus produce. Umgibe is the rope of hope that pulls unemployed and underserved communities up.

Awards & Accolades

• 2017 SABF Social Innovation Development Award Winner
• 2017 WIA Award (Women In Africa, Morroco
• 2017 SAG –SEED Award Winner (https://www.seed.uno/awards/all/2017/umgibe-frugal-waterwise-growing-system.html)
• 2017 Top Entrepreneur Processing Sector Award -Agriculture & Rural Development (KZN Povince)
• 2017 Marie Claire Future Shaper Awards (SA)