Inchanga Agro Ecology Hub wins best community facility at eThekwini Service Excellence Awards
The Southern Africa Food Lab is prod to celebrate a remarkable achievement for Woza Nami and its partners: the Inchanga Agro Ecology Hub has been awarded first prize in the Best Community Facility category at the 2025 eThekwini Municipality Service Excellence Awards.
The Hub was nominated for this award by the eThekwini Municipality’s Agro Ecology Unit, in recognition of its outstanding contribution to sustainable agriculture, food security, community development, and local economic empowerment. The winners were announced at a ceremony held at the Durban ICC on 27 June 2025.
Woza Nami, a Southern Africa Food Lab initiative, works to build robust local food value chains by equipping smallholder farmers, fostering partnerships, empowering youth, and ensuring communities have access to culturally appropriate, nutritious food produced through sustainable agroecological practices.
Since its launch in 2020, Woza Nami has focused on establishing community-led agroecology hubs like Inchanga. These hubs are not just demonstration sites for sustainable farming but centres for knowledge exchange, market access, and social enterprise that strengthen local food security while regenerating the environment.
Collaboration at the heart of success
The Inchanga Agro Ecology Hub is operated in partnership with eThekwini Municipality’s Agri-Unit and the Food Security Section, and is supported by organisations such as Biowatch, Seriti Institute, and the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). It also benefits from the Social Employment Fund (SEF), which has enabled the employment and training of local youth in agroecology.
This shared vision has created a centre that is professional, responsive, and accessible to all. Weekly planning meetings, detailed record-keeping, and ongoing community consultations ensure alignment with local needs and accountability in delivery.
Empowering communities through sustainable agriculture
The hub’s dedicated team includes a horticulturist, agroecology graduates, and technical staff trained in organic farming, permaculture, and climate-smart practices. Over the past year alone, they have:
- Supported local gardens with seedlings, compost, infrastructure, and technical guidance;
- Conducted monthly workshops on organic production, soil health, pest control, food safety, poultry production, and agroprocessing;
- Donated freshly grown vegetables to the Fredville Clinic and Early Childhood Development Centres to help address malnutrition;
A model of citizen-centred service
The award recognised the Inchanga Hub’s exceptional application of the Batho Pele (“People First”) principles, from community consultation and clear service standards to courtesy, transparency, and accountability. Notably, the hub ensures accessibility for women, youth, older people, and people with disabilities, sharing information in English and isiZulu and through varied channels such as workshops, local noticeboards, WhatsApp groups, and municipal platforms.
Market access and local economic development
Beyond production support and training, the Inchanga Hub has helped local farmers establish a stable monthly farmers' market to sell their produce. Graduates of its programmes have gone on to receive national recognition, including the Best Backyard Garden award at the South African Agricultural Awards.
Safety and leadership
The hub’s strong leadership has also been evident in its commitment to Occupational Health and Safety. Regular risk assessments, training, provision of personal protective equipment, and a culture of continuous improvement ensure a safe, professional environment for staff and community members alike.
The Southern Africa Food Lab congratulates the entire Inchanga Agro Ecology Hub team, eThekwini Municipality’s Agro Ecology Unit, Biowatch, Seriti Institute, PGS, and all our partners, as well as the community members whose commitment to sustainable food systems continues to inspire.