The Philippi Horticultural area is a large semi-urban semi-rural area of
Philippi
Philippi (; grc-gre, Φίλιπποι, ''Philippoi'') was a major Greek city northwest of the nearby island, Thasos. Its original name was Crenides ( grc-gre, Κρηνῖδες, ''Krenides'' "Fountains") after its establishment by Thasian colon ...
in
Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
's
Cape Flats
The Cape Flats ( af, Die Kaapse Vlakte) is an expansive, low-lying, flat area situated to the southeast of the central business district of Cape Town. The Cape Flats is also the name of an administrative region of the City of Cape Town, which lie ...
region, in the
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...
province of
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
. The horticultural area is sparsely populated compared to the surrounding city and contains many farms. The 2011 national census recorded 6,618 residents living in the area with an additional 2,961 residents living in the Knole Park community in the central western part of the area.
History
Prior to European settlement in the 1600s nomadic Khoi and San used the land for grazing their animals and hunting for food.
The first recorded community of local residents in the Philippi area was in 1833 during which time it was known as "Die Duine" (The Dunes).
The Philippi Germans arrived in Cape Town (most of whom originated from the
Lüneburger Heide region of Germany)
in three groups between 1860 and 1883, and became known for their ability to grow vegetables in the sandy soils of the Cape Flats.
Economy
The Philippi Horticultural Area provides up to 80% of Cape Town's fresh produce.
It hosts 38 farms, 20 of which focus on the cultivation of
horticultural
Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...
products and 11 on livestock and animal products.
Continuing urban development within the horticultural area has been controversial amid concerns that it will have a negative impact on
food sustainability within Cape Town broadly.
The area's agricultural activities generate R484 million of economic output annually.
References
{{Cape Town, communities
Townships in the Western Cape
Suburbs of Cape Town