Mhlauli calls for more investment in youth-led urban agriculture

By Akani Nkuna

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli has called for major and intentional investment in youth-led urban agriculture.

Speaking at the 6th Urban Agric World Summit in Zimbali, KwaZulu-Natal, on Thursday, Mhlauli said that despite myriad challenges young people are confronted with in the agriculture sector, their input feeds families.

“That is why we must continue to invest in youth-led initiatives that build skills, entrepreneurship, and resilience. When young people grow food, they are not just feeding communities, they are planting the seeds of independence and innovation,” she said.

The summit, hosted by Enterprise iLembe in partnership with Magenta Global, gathered together researchers, innovators, policymakers and entrepreneurs to solicit solutions that are technology driven and sustainable for inclusive growth, and to combat food insecurity.

Mhlauli said that the deployment of technology within the sector needs to complement human