New Farming Initiative Turns Youth Unemployment into Opportunity

Twenty young South Africans are building farming businesses from compact solar-powered units in a pilot programme aiming to tackle both youth unemployment and food insecurity at the same time. ... The post New Farming Initiative Turns Youth Unemployment into Opportunity appeared first on Good Things Guy.

May 19, 2026 - 06:14

New Farming Initiative Turns Youth Unemployment into Opportunity

Twenty young South Africans are building farming businesses from compact solar-powered units in a pilot programme aiming to tackle both youth unemployment and food insecurity at the same time.

Johannesburg, South Africa (19 May 2026) – For years, young South Africans have been told to “think outside the box” when it comes to finding work. A new project in Diepsloot is taking that idea literally… with compact smart-farming units turning unemployed youth into business owners while helping feed communities at the same time.

At a time when South Africa continues to battle soaring youth unemployment and growing concerns around food security, a new initiative led by Afrika Tikkun and funded by E Squared Investments is showing how agriculture and entrepreneurship can work together to create something genuinely meaningful.

The Green Acres Hydro-Coop programme, based at Afrika Tikkun’s Green Acres Farm in Diepsloot, has brought together a group of 20 young trailblazers, including 19 women and one young man living with a disability, to build revenue-generating farming enterprises using smart Hydro-Coop units designed for urban, rural and remote environments.

And these aren’t ordinary farming setups.

The Hydro-Coop units combine poultry farming with hydroponic vegetable production in compact, solar-powered systems that use significantly less water than conventional farming methods. They’re movable, sustainable and designed to work in areas where infrastructure can often be limited. More importantly, they’re giving young South Africans access to modern agricultural skills and the chance to create income for themselves in a country where opportunities can feel painfully out of reach. The pilot programme began in February and quickly moved beyond training manuals and classroom sessions. Participants are now actively building and running their own micro-enterprises while learning hydroponics, farm management and entrepreneurship through practical, hands-on experience.

But what makes the initiative stand out is that it’s focused on the full journey of building a business, not just growing produce.

Afrika Tikkun has partnered with Garden Fresh at Nine Yards, Joburg’s new green town square, along with additional retail outlets, to create real market access for the produce being grown. Participants will gain experience in farming, sales and customer service while learning what it takes to run a successful enterprise from the ground up.

If programme targets are met, the 20 businesses are expected to produce more than 22,000 chickens and 60,000 vegetables annually, creating around 228,000 meals while saving as much as 1.5 million litres of water each year.

“When skills development is combined with long-term mentorship, farming stops being just a chore and becomes a sustainable career. These youth aren’t just farming for today; they are building the businesses of tomorrow, and it’s up to us to make sure that path remains accessible for them,” says Marc Lubner, Group CEO of Afrika Tikkun.

The first intake was intentionally designed as an almost entirely female cohort, recognising the additional barriers many young women face when it comes to employment, entrepreneurship and access to startup opportunities.

Rather than placing participants into temporary jobs, the programme focuses on ownership, sustainability and creating businesses that can continue growing long after the training phase ends.

“Agriculture can be a powerful engine for jobs, entrepreneurship and community growth. By giving young people access to infrastructure, practical training and market opportunities, we are helping them build viable businesses and long-term income. At the same time, we are strengthening local food security and creating a model that can be scaled to reach many more young people in the years ahead,” Lubner adds.

The initiative is already producing inspiring success stories.

One of them is Debra Dagada, who completed an NQF Level 2 qualification in Plant Production through Afrika Tikkun’s agricultural learnership programme before launching her own farming operation through Green Acres. With mentorship, technical support and starter inputs, Dagada eventually secured her own land at Northern Farm in Diepsloot, moving from trainee to independent farmer.

The systems behind the programme are powered by UrbanFarm Africa, an agritech and smart food systems business that says it has implemented 271 smart farming projects, trained more than 7,500 people and helped participating farmers generate R250 million over the past five years.

“We believe in backing solutions that are both practical and enduring,” says Zakiya Khan, Head of Investments: Social Entrepreneurship at E Squared. “What stands out in this model is its focus on enabling young people to participate meaningfully in the economy, not just through skills development, but through ownership and the ability to generate income over time.”

Afrika Tikkun plans to introduce another cohort of 20 participants in 2027, with the long-term goal of expanding the programme into more communities across South Africa.

For the young people involved, this programme is about far more than vegetables or chickens… it’s about dignity and finally having a chance to build something of their own. And if this model continues to grow, Diepsloot could become the starting point for a farming revolution led by South African youth.