AWARD YEAR
2021
CATEGORY
Work
GOALS
No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Decent Work & Economic Growth, Sustainable Cities & Communities
KEYWORDS
Urban Agriculture, low cost, compost, african entrepreneurs, vertical farming
COUNTRY
Uganda
DESIGNED BY
Paul Matovu / Vertical & Micro Gardening
WEBSITE
https://verticalandmicrogardening.org/
Vertical and Micro Gardening
Urban vertical farming with vermicomposting chamber to have up to 200 plants in 9 square feet
Vertical and Micro-Gardening (VMG) project was the first ever vertical and micro gardening innovation in Uganda. The mission is to empower urban communities to grow their own food and increase agricultural yields throughout all seasons, through the production and distribution of Vertical Farms.
VMG aims to provide ecological and innovative means for food production and agribusiness to help marginalized and vulnerable urban communities. A user, on average, can earn $355 annually – which is sufficient income for an average Ugandan household. It also contributes in eradication of poverty and hunger while promoting women’s entrepreneurs.
The Vertical Farm 1.0 is the first model of vertical farms. It comprises 6 wood trays and measures 3ft by 3ft by 4 ft. This farm can accommodate up to 200 plants at a time. A vermicomposting vertical core makes the farm self-fertilising with worms travelling throughout the soil beds depositing their worm castings and aiding in aeration and infiltration.