Faith-based non-profit Living Hope's agricultural programme is bouncing back after the July storms damaged its farm facilities.

The programme, which provides agricultural training and fresh produce to the community, was hard hit by the severe weather, but recovery efforts are under way.

“The storm brought 102 km/h wind gusts that tore the roof and sides off four of our tunnels and our largest shade net,” director Victor Thomas said.

“Despite our students’ and facilities teams’ best efforts to save seedlings and reinforce structures, we lost almost our entire crop. The damage to the farm, combined with the lost crop, was estimated to be around R280 000.

“Our staff were fighting the storm on two fronts: restoring our infrastructure and supporting our communities.

“We’ve completed 99% of the repairs to the greenhouse tunnels, and this has been a valuable training experience for our future farmers.

“However, our shaded net structure still has extensive damage to two sides, which will require specialised work. We’re currently waiting on final quotes.”

The cucumber tunnels had been worst hit, said Mr Thomas.

“We’ve used patchwork and repair tape on the tunnels’ plastic coverings to make temporary fixes, allowing us to continue using them while we await more permanent solutions.”

The students had worked through the night to secure tunnels and save seedlings, gaining real-life insights into the realities of farming, said Mr Thomas.

One of the participants in the programme, Einstein Sibanda, said he had learnt how to run a business and had started selling chicken eggs.

“This has helped me support my family and begin using the land that's been in my family for generations to become self-sufficient. Now, I feel confident about starting and managing my own farm," he said.

Despite the setbacks, Living Hope remains optimistic about the future of the programme.

“While the storm presented significant challenges, the commitment of our team and the support of our partners have been instrumental in our recovery,” Mr Thomas said. “We remain hopeful that with continued effort and God’s grace, our farm will not only recover but thrive once more.”

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Living Hope rebuilds farm after storm damage