Usisi e Mase o

Sibusisiwe Maseko is a senior agricultural analyst at Greenagri, an information-sharing portal developed in collaboration with the Western Cape department of agriculture for farmers, researchers, the private sector and NGOS interested in smart agricultural practices. It supports green farming practices, balancing farming and conservation needs, resource efficiency and waste minimisation in the Western Cape. Sibusisiwe was instrumental in the running of the portal. Since its inception, more than 170 000 users have visited the site, which has information on topics such as sustainable agriculture, agri-resilience and funding. The agriculture sector desk also runs workshops on how to become energy resilient, which is vital considering the negative effect that load-shedding has had on this sector that is a large contributor to the economy and is a major employer.“it has been particularly enlightening to see how renewable energy solutions are perceived not just as an environment-conscious solution for producers looking to secure alternative energy but also as a cheaper, long-term solution in comparison to more traditional options such as diesel generators and grid electricity,” Sibusisiwe says, adding that this work has been an important first step in conscientising agricultural producers about how incorporating sustainability in their operations can have a positive effect not only on a business’ environmental goals but also on its financial health. This project assists in communicating the strength of the business case for incorporating sustainable practices into agricultural businesses.