The fifth edition of the Food For Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba kicked off on a high note at the Choose Life Church, Moreleta Park in Pretoria East, Gauteng.
With over 2 000 delegates expected over the next two days, farmers and leaders in the agricultural sector are hopeful that not only will they learn more about the sector, but they will also find much-needed solutions to the many challenges they face.
Growing agriculture in SA
Managing director and co-founder of Food For Mzansi, Ivor Price, said the beauty of the Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba, now in its fifth year, lies in its ability to bring together producers and agro-processors from across the continent, not just to share ideas, but to build a shared future.
“It’s a space where energy meets experience, where collaboration replaces competition, and where the next generation of South African and African agriculture finds both its voice and its confidence.
“For Food For Mzansi, it is deeply moving to have seen this event grow into a gathering that now attracts nearly 2 000 people over two days,” Price said.
Delivering a keynote address, Land Bank chief strategy officer Sydney Soundy encouraged farmers not to wait for perfect conditions, as agriculture has never been in a perfect condition.
“Farming is not only about agriculture but also about inclusion, rural development; however, we know we have structural challenges such as logistics, infrastructure.
“Young farmers are also dealing with limited exposure to funding, no access to land and markets, and as such, this has made agriculture not attractive enough,” he said.
Soundy noted that the future of agriculture is in the hands of young people, but land without funding is pointless, and finance without markets would not work. He said that Land Bank is ready to help farmers.
Partnerships are key
In a remote address, minister of agriculture John Steenhuisen said that the Food For Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba is a celebration of the hard work young food producers are doing.
“This celebration is about your innovation and success and what you have been able to bring to the table in moving agriculture forward in the country.
“We want to say thank you to Food For Mzansi on their fifth edition of this indaba, and it just keeps going from strength to strength every year,” he said.
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Steenhuisen said although there is a lot to celebrate, the challenges the sector face cannot go unnoticed as they impact all farmers on a daily basis.
“Access to finance, climate change and building resilient agri food systems and all of these things are important if we are going to sustain the sector and grow the economy and create jobs the country needs.
“We also have global situations that are impacting fertilisers and being able to seek external markets. We have also seen how disruptions can have on local agriculture; however, if we work together, none of these challenges is insurmountable,” he said.
Opportunity to network and learn
Robert Nokanja, a farmer who flew from Kenya to attend the indaba, said he expected to learn as much as possible so that he could take what he learned back to Kenya.
“I am truly blessed to be here and want to ensure that I learn as much as I can. I believe there is a lot that I can learn and take back home. In Kenya, we can learn a lot from South Africa, and I see this conference as a breakthrough to learning,” he said.
A crop farmer from Winterveld, Pretoria, Dineo Mphahlele, said she wants to connect with like-minded farmers and establish relationships for future projects.
“I believe this is a great platform for a farmer on my scale to engage, share ideas and best practices to enable ourselves to grow from here. I look forward to the topics and solutions to the challenges farmers face.
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