matters to be attended to within the community. These forums are aimed at
discussing community challenges, current projects, and future projects. On a regular
basis, the forums encourage community members to share information on how to
better the lives and empower the communities. The participants use these
opportunities to share information and knowledge on farming activities as well as
the availability of produce on their farms and the creation of household-based
vegetable gardens.
All the interviewed farmers indicated that as an agricultural practitioner, the
sharing of knowledge among farmers is essential as it allows them to benchmark
with each other and improve on their practices. The benchmarking sessions include
visits to different farms in other townships, around the City of Tshwane Metropolitan
to learn and obtain practical experience on how their counterparts farm and where
they engage in peer assistance and sharing of knowledge during the sessions. Those
farmers who have been in the operational IKS field for a long time and have gained
vast experience in agricultural practices also participate in educating members of
communities in various agricultural practices, for example, sharing information on
how and when to plant which crop and the type of soil needed for each plant.
The experienced farmers also assist emerging farmers by sharing their
experiences and lessons they have learned by engaging in mentoring, monitoring,
and evaluation of activities and regular visits to the new farmer’s establishment to
engage and assist with challenges and to provide motivation. All the interviewed
participants indicated that they actively participate in research activities and agricultural studies that are conducted by researchers from different institutions including
tertiary institutions (universities, educational institutions), agricultural institutions
(including government departments), and other research institutions (Agriculture
Research Council, Department of Agriculture, Gauteng Department) to share their
knowledge and experiences in the agricultural field. The farmers in Hammanskraal
and Bronkhorstspruit indicated that they also participate in agricultural research
experiments where they are provided with different seeds of the same crop to test
their growth in their climate and also the seeds of indigenous plants that are provided
in order to grow the market and increase the knowledge base of the farmers based on
the information collected in these experiments. The knowledge they gather in these
experiments are shared in the different knowledge sharing platforms (platforms).
Participation in agricultural industry events (local and national events) have also
been identified as a good platform to network, learn, share knowledge, and showcase
their practices on a wider platform.
Ninety per cent of respondents opined that their agricultural practices enabled
them to provide nutritious and fresh food/produce to the community in a close
vicinity that allows for the economic growth of community and a good opportunity
to create a healthy community and employment. Ten out of 14 farm households in
the study area stated that they regularly donate produce to charities, primary schools,
creches, and disadvantaged households’ especially child-headed households and
those of the elderly. The farms in Hammanskraal, for example, are run by a
cooperative, whose members are elderly people.
9 Assessing the Impact of Indigenous Knowledge Systems on Sustainable. . .
203
discussing community challenges, current projects, and future projects. On a regular
basis, the forums encourage community members to share information on how to
better the lives and empower the communities. The participants use these
opportunities to share information and knowledge on farming activities as well as
the availability of produce on their farms and the creation of household-based
vegetable gardens.
All the interviewed farmers indicated that as an agricultural practitioner, the
sharing of knowledge among farmers is essential as it allows them to benchmark
with each other and improve on their practices. The benchmarking sessions include
visits to different farms in other townships, around the City of Tshwane Metropolitan
to learn and obtain practical experience on how their counterparts farm and where
they engage in peer assistance and sharing of knowledge during the sessions. Those
farmers who have been in the operational IKS field for a long time and have gained
vast experience in agricultural practices also participate in educating members of
communities in various agricultural practices, for example, sharing information on
how and when to plant which crop and the type of soil needed for each plant.
The experienced farmers also assist emerging farmers by sharing their
experiences and lessons they have learned by engaging in mentoring, monitoring,
and evaluation of activities and regular visits to the new farmer’s establishment to
engage and assist with challenges and to provide motivation. All the interviewed
participants indicated that they actively participate in research activities and agricultural studies that are conducted by researchers from different institutions including
tertiary institutions (universities, educational institutions), agricultural institutions
(including government departments), and other research institutions (Agriculture
Research Council, Department of Agriculture, Gauteng Department) to share their
knowledge and experiences in the agricultural field. The farmers in Hammanskraal
and Bronkhorstspruit indicated that they also participate in agricultural research
experiments where they are provided with different seeds of the same crop to test
their growth in their climate and also the seeds of indigenous plants that are provided
in order to grow the market and increase the knowledge base of the farmers based on
the information collected in these experiments. The knowledge they gather in these
experiments are shared in the different knowledge sharing platforms (platforms).
Participation in agricultural industry events (local and national events) have also
been identified as a good platform to network, learn, share knowledge, and showcase
their practices on a wider platform.
Ninety per cent of respondents opined that their agricultural practices enabled
them to provide nutritious and fresh food/produce to the community in a close
vicinity that allows for the economic growth of community and a good opportunity
to create a healthy community and employment. Ten out of 14 farm households in
the study area stated that they regularly donate produce to charities, primary schools,
creches, and disadvantaged households’ especially child-headed households and
those of the elderly. The farms in Hammanskraal, for example, are run by a
cooperative, whose members are elderly people.
9 Assessing the Impact of Indigenous Knowledge Systems on Sustainable. . .
203