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Smallholder farmers, the unsung heroes of agriculture, are helping to secure South Africa’s food future

Smallholder farmers, the unsung heroes of agriculture, are helping to secure South Africa’s food future
Former steelworker Anton Temba Gumede has moved into fish farming. (Photo: Supplied)
Scott Drimie and Tatjana von Bormann
By Scott Drimie and Tatjana von Bormann
16 Oct 2024
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As South Africa looks to a future threatened by climate change and rising food insecurity, the role of small-scale farmers becomes even more critical. These farmers are not just growing food, they are cultivating hope, resilience, and sustainable communities.

Commemorated on 16 October each year, World Food Day serves as a reminder of the challenge of feeding a growing global population. The 2024 theme “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future” raises an uncomfortable truth: despite global agricultural capacity, hunger still plagues millions.

The right to adequate, available and accessible food is enshrined in the Constitution. Section 27 speaks of food sufficiency for all South Africans, and Section 28 specifically references childhood nutrition.

These rights are violated when hunger is present in any community. One in five South Africans is at risk of hunger. Among children under five the stunting rate is 27%. More than a quarter of our children will never realise their full cognitive or physical potential.

If the government, and all food-system stakeholders, are unable to deliver this fundamental right there is little hope of achieving inclusive growth in South Africa.

Hope is, however, arising from an unexpected sector. Small-scale farmers are stepping up to offer a solution, transforming themselves into key players in the fight for food security and sustainable futures.

Small-scale farmers in South Africa are no longer defined by the stereotypes of poverty-stricken, subsistence agriculture. Across the country’s diverse regions, from the hills of KwaZulu-Natal to the grasslands of the Eastern Cape, these farmers are rewriting their narrative, contributing to food security, and demonstrating how small-scale farming can play a pivotal role in the country’s development.

Unsung heroes of agriculture


Small-scale farmers make up a substantial portion of South Africa’s agricultural landscape. While larger commercial farms dominate the formal food market, producing much of what appears on supermarket shelves, it is the millions of smallholder farmers who provide fresh, nutritious food to the communities most in need.

In a country where food insecurity affects a significant portion of the population, these smallholders are proving that they have a critical role in closing the gap between supply and need.

Take Anton Temba Gumede, a former steelworker who transitioned into fish farming. Gumede’s story exemplifies the resilience of South Africa’s small-scale farmers. His ability to pivot from a career in steel to a successful venture in aquaculture is not only a personal victory, but also a contribution to local food security.

Former steelworker Anton Temba Gumede has moved into fish farming. (Photo: Supplied)



“I raise thousands of tilapia and catfish fingerlings, selling hundreds every month, helping others to set up fish farms,” Gumede says proudly. This type of farming innovation is helping to diversify local food systems, ensuring that communities have access to a wider variety of fresh produce and protein sources.

Agriculture as healthcare


Beyond providing food, these farmers are also contributing to public health. In regions like eThekwini, where malnutrition rates are alarmingly high, degreed educators such as Princess Dlomo are making a difference by teaching others to grow nutrient-dense, organic crops.

Dlomo, a community-based extension officer, highlights the deep connection between agriculture and health. 

“By providing nutrient-dense, organic produce, we’re not just feeding people — we’re healing them,” she says. This approach aligns directly with the 2024 World Food Day theme, underlining that food is not just sustenance; it is a cornerstone of a better life.

As South Africa continues to battle non-communicable diseases, particularly in poor and rural communities, agronomists like Dlomo are showing that agriculture can be the first line of defence, helping to reduce the burden on healthcare systems by preventing disease through improved nutrition.

Breaking the stigma of farming


Despite its importance, agriculture still suffers from an image problem, especially among young people. Farming is often seen as a last resort, something to be avoided. However, initiatives like the Inchanga Agroecology Hub in eThekwini are challenging this perception.

Farmers like Solomon Muzikayise, who operates from a wheelchair, are helping to shift how farming is viewed. 

“Teachers send misbehaving students to work in my fields as punishment, reinforcing a view that farming is an undesirable pursuit,” he says, but he is working to change that by turning his fields into a place of learning, innovation, and growth.

These municipal hubs, spread across eThekwini, are more than just farms; they serve as incubators for innovation, community building, and resilience in the face of climate change and economic hardship.

Young agriculturalists like Sanele Khonto, who once avoided farming, are now fully engaged in new, sustainable forms of agriculture. After visiting the agroecology hub, Khonto realised that farming could be a fulfilling and impactful career. This shift in perception is crucial as South Africa looks to the next generation to carry forward sustainable agricultural practices.

Rooted in community


The right to food is a government responsibility, but its delivery requires a multi-stakeholder response. The success of smallholder farmers is often supported by community-led initiatives and partnerships with NGOs.

Projects like the Southern Africa Food Lab’s Woza Nami (isiZulu for Come With Me), which promotes agroecology and sustainable farming practices, are critical in helping smallholders thrive in a challenging environment.

These small-scale agricultural movements are also playing a vital role in addressing multidimensional poverty. By creating jobs and providing skills training, they are empowering individuals and uplifting entire communities.

Partnerships with organisations like the Seriti Institute and funding from initiatives like the WWF Nedbank Green Trust, the Social Employment Fund and the DG Murray Trust are vital to the sustainability of these projects, ensuring that small-scale farming is not just a temporary solution but a long-term strategy for food security.

Path to a better future


As South Africa looks to a future threatened by climate change and rising food insecurity, the role of small-scale farmers becomes even more critical. These farmers are not just growing food; they are cultivating hope, resilience, and sustainable communities.

Smallholder farmers, often overlooked in discussions about food production, are proving that sometimes the most impactful changes come from the smallest seeds. As we mark World Food Day in 2024, their stories challenge us to rethink our perceptions of farming and consider how local, small-scale agriculture could be a major part of the solution to global food insecurity.

The right to food is fundamental. And in South Africa, smallholder farmers are fighting to make that right a reality for everyone, one crop at a time. DM

Prof Scott Drimie and Tatjana von Bormann are co-directors of the Southern Africa Food Lab housed within the Department of Agriculture at Stellenbosch University.

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