These farms provide a safe place for the elderly to spend their days and also
contribute to the community economically and to ensure food security. Further, the
farmers practising cooperative farming have stated that they have functional gardens
at their homes, and they encourage other households to grow different crops to
enable the farmers to exchange crops. This practice was highlighted by all the
respondents in Refilwe, Soshanguve, Sokhulumi, and Majaneng.
9.8
IKS and Sustainable Agriculture Impact on Food Security
This question was asked to analyse and illustrate how the practice of sustainable
agriculture impacts on food security in their respective communities to determine if
there is a broader understanding by the respondents of how agricultural practices
affect food security and nutrition. Ninety-six per cent of the participants responded
that their choice of indigenous knowledge practices has contributed to food security
in the community. Four per cent of respondents stated that they supply crop produce
to two large markets (Tshwane Fruits and Vegetable Market and City Deep Vegetable and Fruits Market). Further, they stated that the utilisation of the hydroponics
agricultural method enabled the availability of crops throughout the year which
meant limited imports (from other countries) of vegetables when the crops are
off-season. Also, such farms employ local community members leading to employment generation. The following are the paraphrased qualifying statements by ninetysix per cent (96%) of the participants of the study as requested and stated in the
questionnaire.
IKS methods are easy to implement for small holder farmers, community farms,
and households with functional gardens (these are households that have created
gardens in their backyards and produce enough produce to feed their families and
share with fellow community members). The advantage of IKS methods is that it
enables farmers to manage the cost of running the establishment as they do not utilise
middlemen. Further the communities have access to the produce on a more affordable rate as there are no transport and storage fees included in the pricing. In case of
livestock farming, the quality of the product is guaranteed as the animals are being
fed with natural products like peanut shells and the peanut plant and chicken manure.
The sharing of knowledge within communities has been a vehicle for highlighting
the importance of IKS and sustainable agriculture on food security. Few of the
respondents opined that the youth needs to be exposed more to farming in general
with specific emphasis on understanding the relationship of these concepts (indigenous knowledge systems, sustainable agriculture, and food security) and how
growing vegetables in the home garden provide nutritional security and financial
relief for not having to buy vegetables. The creation of employment is also a way to
achieve food security. The respondents highlighted the importance of the relationship between employment and food security, as well as their understanding that
ensuring good agricultural practices is an integral factor in the conservation of the
environment.
204
J. Seko et al.
contribute to the community economically and to ensure food security. Further, the
farmers practising cooperative farming have stated that they have functional gardens
at their homes, and they encourage other households to grow different crops to
enable the farmers to exchange crops. This practice was highlighted by all the
respondents in Refilwe, Soshanguve, Sokhulumi, and Majaneng.
9.8
IKS and Sustainable Agriculture Impact on Food Security
This question was asked to analyse and illustrate how the practice of sustainable
agriculture impacts on food security in their respective communities to determine if
there is a broader understanding by the respondents of how agricultural practices
affect food security and nutrition. Ninety-six per cent of the participants responded
that their choice of indigenous knowledge practices has contributed to food security
in the community. Four per cent of respondents stated that they supply crop produce
to two large markets (Tshwane Fruits and Vegetable Market and City Deep Vegetable and Fruits Market). Further, they stated that the utilisation of the hydroponics
agricultural method enabled the availability of crops throughout the year which
meant limited imports (from other countries) of vegetables when the crops are
off-season. Also, such farms employ local community members leading to employment generation. The following are the paraphrased qualifying statements by ninetysix per cent (96%) of the participants of the study as requested and stated in the
questionnaire.
IKS methods are easy to implement for small holder farmers, community farms,
and households with functional gardens (these are households that have created
gardens in their backyards and produce enough produce to feed their families and
share with fellow community members). The advantage of IKS methods is that it
enables farmers to manage the cost of running the establishment as they do not utilise
middlemen. Further the communities have access to the produce on a more affordable rate as there are no transport and storage fees included in the pricing. In case of
livestock farming, the quality of the product is guaranteed as the animals are being
fed with natural products like peanut shells and the peanut plant and chicken manure.
The sharing of knowledge within communities has been a vehicle for highlighting
the importance of IKS and sustainable agriculture on food security. Few of the
respondents opined that the youth needs to be exposed more to farming in general
with specific emphasis on understanding the relationship of these concepts (indigenous knowledge systems, sustainable agriculture, and food security) and how
growing vegetables in the home garden provide nutritional security and financial
relief for not having to buy vegetables. The creation of employment is also a way to
achieve food security. The respondents highlighted the importance of the relationship between employment and food security, as well as their understanding that
ensuring good agricultural practices is an integral factor in the conservation of the
environment.
204
J. Seko et al.