that there is a limited time in their work schedules as they are dependent on the
environment and this time constraint limits their focus on innovation and
experimenting with new methods of farming because there is a preference for
tried and tested methods. There is a need to comply with seed production
regulations before creating a new strain of seed: this is seen as a deterrent and
limits innovation and production of diverse crop varieties.
9.5.3 Benefits of the IKS on Agricultural Practice
• In the farms located near the township and urban areas, the youth in these areas
are willing to learn more about farming and participate in the activities which are
not the same in rural areas. The youth in more urban areas (for example, in
Winterveld and Temba) have to rent out land or find creative and innovative ways
to use limited spaces to practice agriculture.
• IKS farming techniques are affordable and sustainable. Using IKS enables one to
keep the crops and livestock as natural as possible without the use of chemicals or
any artificial product to increase the size of the produce. For example, poultry
farmers stated that chickens and eggs produced using indigenous knowledge and
traditional farming processes have different quality traits as compared to those in
that are reared on conventional farms.
• The usage of IKS in sustainable agriculture enables small holder farmers and
households to grow their own produce. The growing of own crops enables the
community to feed themselves, thus increasing food security in areas where
resources are limited.
• There are institutions like the Foundation for Farming that encourage and support
the use of indigenous knowledge, natural farming techniques, and indigenous
plants and the foundation assists farmers in using these methods. The Agriculture
Research Council, for example, has seeds for indigenous crops like “morogo” and
“leraka”.
• There is an interest in learning more and exploring traditional farming methods
and to find out more about how ancestors used to farm and how the knowledge
can be utilised to enhance the production and keep produce in its natural form by
reducing or eliminating the use of chemicals on crops and livestock.
• The application of IKS in farming has afforded the farmers additional benefits. In
their view, this method of farming has afforded them the opportunity to add value
to the agricultural produce by producing naturally grown crops which have a high
nutritional value. In the instance of hydroponics production, it was stated that this
type of practice enables production throughout the year as the environment is
controlled and produce is affordable as they are locally produced. This type of
farming is beneficial to the environment as there is limited damage to the ground
and the water used can be reused; there is also less usage of chemicals which
enabled the conservation of the resources especially the soil.
9 Assessing the Impact of Indigenous Knowledge Systems on Sustainable. . .
199
environment and this time constraint limits their focus on innovation and
experimenting with new methods of farming because there is a preference for
tried and tested methods. There is a need to comply with seed production
regulations before creating a new strain of seed: this is seen as a deterrent and
limits innovation and production of diverse crop varieties.
9.5.3 Benefits of the IKS on Agricultural Practice
• In the farms located near the township and urban areas, the youth in these areas
are willing to learn more about farming and participate in the activities which are
not the same in rural areas. The youth in more urban areas (for example, in
Winterveld and Temba) have to rent out land or find creative and innovative ways
to use limited spaces to practice agriculture.
• IKS farming techniques are affordable and sustainable. Using IKS enables one to
keep the crops and livestock as natural as possible without the use of chemicals or
any artificial product to increase the size of the produce. For example, poultry
farmers stated that chickens and eggs produced using indigenous knowledge and
traditional farming processes have different quality traits as compared to those in
that are reared on conventional farms.
• The usage of IKS in sustainable agriculture enables small holder farmers and
households to grow their own produce. The growing of own crops enables the
community to feed themselves, thus increasing food security in areas where
resources are limited.
• There are institutions like the Foundation for Farming that encourage and support
the use of indigenous knowledge, natural farming techniques, and indigenous
plants and the foundation assists farmers in using these methods. The Agriculture
Research Council, for example, has seeds for indigenous crops like “morogo” and
“leraka”.
• There is an interest in learning more and exploring traditional farming methods
and to find out more about how ancestors used to farm and how the knowledge
can be utilised to enhance the production and keep produce in its natural form by
reducing or eliminating the use of chemicals on crops and livestock.
• The application of IKS in farming has afforded the farmers additional benefits. In
their view, this method of farming has afforded them the opportunity to add value
to the agricultural produce by producing naturally grown crops which have a high
nutritional value. In the instance of hydroponics production, it was stated that this
type of practice enables production throughout the year as the environment is
controlled and produce is affordable as they are locally produced. This type of
farming is beneficial to the environment as there is limited damage to the ground
and the water used can be reused; there is also less usage of chemicals which
enabled the conservation of the resources especially the soil.
9 Assessing the Impact of Indigenous Knowledge Systems on Sustainable. . .
199