visually; this becomes a challenge to sharing knowledge with the youth as they
are not always willing to learn or spend time in the field. In rural areas, the youth
are not willing to learn without monetary compensation.
• Impact of sustainable agriculture on food security
Due to the fact that the usage of IKS and sustainable agriculture requires time and
patience, its effect on food security is not always immediate and it takes time for
the results and the benefits to be realised.
• Funding for IKS practices
Although the practice of IKS is less expensive than modern farming practices,
there is a challenge in obtaining funding as the indigenous farming practice takes
time. Half of the farmers (who are mostly male farmers) indicated that if their
focus is on commercial farming and on a bigger scale, the amount of time taken in
the usage of IKS will have a negative impact on the financial sustainability of
the farm.
• Water shortage
The majority of the farms are situated in areas where water availability is scarce.
This demands for the creation of a workable water irrigation system. However,
this is not always possible due to limited funds. The farmers in areas like
Onspoed, Onverwacht, Temba, Soshanguve, and Refilwe opted for using water
supplied by the appropriate municipal water reticulation system. However, water
use is expensive for farmers, especially those involved in community-based
farming projects.
• Communal land
Out of the 14 farms visited, nine of them are not owned by the participants but by
the chief or “moshate” (royal house); the participants are given the land either on
lease or free-holding as it was vacant land. However, the participants in the nine
farms are not completely comfortable with such an arrangement because they are
aware that their removal from the land is possible at any given time. It is also
important that these farmers who use communal land have been farming on it for
five to ten years.
• Infrastructure
Lack of machinery and farming tools drives the farmers to adopt traditional
farming methods.
• Market Availability
The availability of local farmer’s market area was identified as a challenge in
achieving economic growth in farming, especially for small holder farmers. Since
the major markets are situated in the City of Tshwane and Johannesburg
Metropolitans, the farmers have to incur huge transport cost to transport the
produce from their farm to markets. Those farmers who focus on community
farming preferred local markets so as to reduce their transport expenses.
• Information sharing, time, and seed production
As there is limited time to share information in formal settings, for example, at
conferences, classrooms, or formal agricultural events, the farmers (respondents)
prefer that people interested in IKS agriculture come to their IKS farming on-site
facilities and have practical sessions with them. Further, the farmers’ indicated
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J. Seko et al.
are not always willing to learn or spend time in the field. In rural areas, the youth
are not willing to learn without monetary compensation.
• Impact of sustainable agriculture on food security
Due to the fact that the usage of IKS and sustainable agriculture requires time and
patience, its effect on food security is not always immediate and it takes time for
the results and the benefits to be realised.
• Funding for IKS practices
Although the practice of IKS is less expensive than modern farming practices,
there is a challenge in obtaining funding as the indigenous farming practice takes
time. Half of the farmers (who are mostly male farmers) indicated that if their
focus is on commercial farming and on a bigger scale, the amount of time taken in
the usage of IKS will have a negative impact on the financial sustainability of
the farm.
• Water shortage
The majority of the farms are situated in areas where water availability is scarce.
This demands for the creation of a workable water irrigation system. However,
this is not always possible due to limited funds. The farmers in areas like
Onspoed, Onverwacht, Temba, Soshanguve, and Refilwe opted for using water
supplied by the appropriate municipal water reticulation system. However, water
use is expensive for farmers, especially those involved in community-based
farming projects.
• Communal land
Out of the 14 farms visited, nine of them are not owned by the participants but by
the chief or “moshate” (royal house); the participants are given the land either on
lease or free-holding as it was vacant land. However, the participants in the nine
farms are not completely comfortable with such an arrangement because they are
aware that their removal from the land is possible at any given time. It is also
important that these farmers who use communal land have been farming on it for
five to ten years.
• Infrastructure
Lack of machinery and farming tools drives the farmers to adopt traditional
farming methods.
• Market Availability
The availability of local farmer’s market area was identified as a challenge in
achieving economic growth in farming, especially for small holder farmers. Since
the major markets are situated in the City of Tshwane and Johannesburg
Metropolitans, the farmers have to incur huge transport cost to transport the
produce from their farm to markets. Those farmers who focus on community
farming preferred local markets so as to reduce their transport expenses.
• Information sharing, time, and seed production
As there is limited time to share information in formal settings, for example, at
conferences, classrooms, or formal agricultural events, the farmers (respondents)
prefer that people interested in IKS agriculture come to their IKS farming on-site
facilities and have practical sessions with them. Further, the farmers’ indicated
198
J. Seko et al.