South Africa’s agricultural sector faces significant challenges and opportunities. With a growing population and a changing climate, the need for innovation and young talent is paramount.
In celebration of Youth Day, Food For Mzansi reached out to youth in the sector to discuss their vision for the future of agriculture, focusing on technology, innovation, agricultural education, and the environment.
The voices of these young farmers paint a hopeful picture of South Africa’s agricultural future.
Tech will demand a different mindset
Ziphezinhle Gabuza, a tech specialist and managing director of Luxescape, sees technology as a game-changer. He believes the current technological advancements being developed will create entirely new career and entrepreneurial opportunities in South Africa, particularly for the youth.
“This technology will demand a different type of professional mindset – one that is open-minded and limitless in its thinking,” he says.
This technology, he believes, will not only boost production but also inspire a new generation to pursue exciting roles in agriculture.
Adapting to a changing climate
Organic fertiliser specialist and founder of Ag Beyond Sustainability, Thapelo Phiri acknowledges the significant impact of climate change on agriculture.
He highlights practices like water conservation, regenerative agriculture, and climate-smart technologies as crucial adaptation strategies.
“The country is likely to experience more frequent and severe droughts, particularly in the western and central regions, which can significantly reduce crop yields and water availability even for irrigation. Shifts in rainfall timing and intensity can also lead to soil erosion and nutrient loss, further challenging agricultural productivity.
“Additionally, higher temperatures may increase the prevalence of pests and diseases, exacerbating the stress on crops and livestock which will further eat in the pockets of farmers,” he shares.
Phiri believes one key strategy is the implementation of water conservation techniques and regenerative agriculture practices to help enhance soil health. Additionally, he adds, integrating climate-smart agriculture that leverages data and predictive analytics can aid farmers in making informed decisions about planting and irrigation,.
Phiri says there is a need for robust policies, research, and collaboration to ensure food security in a changing climate.
Encourage sustainable practices
Palesa Motaung, farmer and co-owner of AgriKool, envisions a future where black South Africans play a more significant role in agriculture.
She emphasises access to resources like water, land, and credit as critical factors for inclusivity and believes black farmers should enjoy better access to these resources.
“Currently, water is mainly in the hands of commercial white farmers and I think black farmers have access to about 7.5% of the allocated water. More access to resources like water would be good. I would also like to see more black farmers having access to land and have access to it, especially high-potential land that is fertile,” she says.
Additionally, she advocates for sustainable practices like conservation agriculture and permaculture to protect the environment.
“Africa has the highest rates of degraded soils and South African soils are struggling with erosion because of the overuse of fertiliser. If we can become better stewards of the soil and use less inorganic chemicals and inputs and be more organic.”
Enabling youth to contribute
Speaking to Food For Mzansi, Lliam Roach, farmer and co-founder of Ezulwini Africa, shares his vision of a network of young black-owned commercial farms.
When asked how he sees his role in shaping the future of agriculture in the next 20 years, Roach responded: “Mine and Ezulwini’s role over the next 10 to 20 years will be to create a solution that enables our youth to contribute to local food security, employ and uplift their local communities.”
His approach, using aquaponics and data management systems, aims to empower young people to contribute to food security and uplift their communities.
“By using aquaponics farming, investing in and empowering African human capital in tandem with the development of a robust data and digital management system, can make these farms replicable and manageable,” he explains.
Teaching youth farm management skills
Gomolemo “Diesel” Phalatse, student liaison and facilitator at Agri Skills Transfer emphasises the importance of farm management skills for the next generation.
“There’s a difference between running a farm and managing a farm,” he says.
“The one running does one thing excellently, planting the maize and fertilising it. The other is good at both, planting the maize and selling it at a price that allows him or her to do it again.”
Phalatse believes for the next generation of farmers, there is a need for training in areas like business management to ensure farmers can make informed decisions and thrive in a competitive market.
Mechanisation and networking skills
James Tjale, manager of the youth-owned Bokamoso Farmers Academy echoes this sentiment, stressing the necessity of technological and mechanisation skills for future farmers.
“Particularly those who want to be agripreneurs and farm managers. For us to move into technology we need to have the right skills and knowledge so that we can maximise production,” Tjale says.
In addition to this, farmers and agripreneurs must excel in collaboration and networking, he believes. “The ability to network effectively creates a valuable web of opportunities that can evolve into significant market connections.
“Risk management is another future essential for players in the sector.”
Feeding cities and modernising farms
Chantelle de Bruyn, an agripreneur and visionary behind South Africa’s first butternut coffee, highlights vertical farming and urban agriculture as key innovations.
“With the rise of urbanisation, vertical farming, and other urban agriculture techniques will gain more importance because they can help us address food security issues by bringing fresh produce closer to urban populations,” De Bruyn says.
With such startups, she believes we can play a crucial role in modernising the agri sector in the innovation tech space.
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