Tim Abaa a visionary farmer and community leader renowned for his work in agroecology, biointensive agriculture, and permaculture shares his dedication to equipping communities with the knowledge and skills to grow their own food sustainably.
Abaa, based in Orange Farm in Gauteng, often referred to as the ‘capital city of organic farming in Africa’, has committed himself to improving food security through sustainable farming practices.
“Orange Farm is a land that is blessed with fertility, the climate, the topography, all good for farming. Then it bothers the mind, why do something else and not agriculture?” he tells Food for Mzansi’s Duncan Masiwa in a Farmer’s Inside Track podcast.
His journey into agriculture started in 2012 when he began working with five farmers in the area. Today, he has established over 5 000 backyard food gardens across South Africa. His approach, particularly in townships where access to land and resources is limited, focuses on promoting sustainable, small-scale farming methods that can uplift communities.
Teaching the next generation of farmers
Recognising the need to instil agricultural awareness from an early age, Abaa developed programmes aimed at early childhood development (ECD) learners.
“We started a programme on ECD kids, on teaching young kids, three years old to six years old, on the value of growing their own fresh organic vegetables from seeds, seedlings, flowers, and also addressing climate change,” he explains.
His initiative integrates agriculture into classroom learning, using practical examples like counting vegetables to teach mathematics.
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Understanding the pressing issue of youth unemployment, Abaa has taken strides to introduce agripreneurship as a viable career path. “We got entrepreneurs. We got tenderpreneurs, but we don’t have agripreneurs. Who are these young people that are coming up with ideas in the agri-space to try and transform the food system and also create a silent economy in agriculture in our townships?” he asks.
He encourages young people to integrate technology, science, and traditional farming knowledge to develop innovative agricultural solutions. His efforts focus on adding value through agro-processing and the creation of organic fertilisers, empowering youth to become key players in the agricultural economy.
In this episode, Abaa also discusses:
- Climate-smart farming;
- Overcoming challenges in sustainable agriculture; and
- The training academy: Building a knowledge-based farming community
Want to know more? Dive deeper into the episode and gain insights from the award-winning Farmer’s Inside Track, officially recognised as Africa and the world’s best podcast at the 2024 Digital Media Awards presented by WAN-IFRA, the global press organisation.
Option 1: Click here to listen on Spotify (all mobile and other devices).
Option 2: Click here to listen on any Apple device.
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