“My journey in farming started in March 2020, when I had to close down my catering business due to the pandemic,” Mkabile says. “The catering business was my only source of income, and I am the sole breadwinner. So I needed to think of another way for me to support my mother, my six-year-old son, and my brother.”
Mkabile’s solution? Crop production. But with no agricultural background to draw from, she relied on Google for advice and insight on the best crops to plant and the best times to plant them. Today, she is successfully farming spinach in winter, green peppers in summer, and poultry year-round for her local community.
“I supply supermarkets in the township, as well as restaurants and street vendors in my area,” she says. “My dream is to become a commercial farmer, where I can produce and supply my vegetables to businesses and companies all over South Africa while creating job opportunities for the people. I would also love to have my own farming academy in the township, where I can train children on the importance of food security.”
Funding is the primary obstacle for smallholders like Mkabile. Because she operates within an informal settlement, she is unable to get a lease agreement and is, therefore, unable to apply for funding. “Everything I do at the moment is covered by the profits of my business,” she says. “It’s very difficult for me to expand because I have to use my profits to maintain the farm and support my family. I don’t even have an irrigation system—I currently use watering cans.”
While pests and extreme weather conditions do not pose a major threat for Mkabile, these factors can further complicate smallholders’ lives in other parts of the world. Rainfall inconsistency, in particular, is a significant challenge, says Flock.
“As they enter into each planting season, the biggest question facing smallholder farmers is when and for how long the rains will occur,” he says. “Fortunately, agricultural inputs that are drought resistant and those that promote more ‘green tech’—such as pesticides—are continuing to enter the market and are beginning to reach smallholder farmers.”
How the world is winning
Protecting and nourishing this crucial part of the agricultural supply chain is vital to long-term food security, not to mention the livelihoods of more than 500 million smallholder farmers. Numerous projects are facilitating on-the-ground training and education of farmers. In addition, multistakeholder organizations are providing access to better-quality seeds, improved machinery, fertilizers and pesticides, and funding and markets.
“My journey in farming started in March 2020, when I had to close down my catering business due to the pandemic,” Mkabile says. “The catering business was my only source of income, and I am the sole breadwinner. So I needed to think of another way for me to support my mother, my six-year-old son, and my brother.”
Mkabile’s solution? Crop production. But with no agricultural background to draw from, she relied on Google for advice and insight on the best crops to plant and the best times to plant them. Today, she is successfully farming spinach in winter, green peppers in summer, and poultry year-round for her local community.
“I supply supermarkets in the township, as well as restaurants and street vendors in my area,” she says. “My dream is to become a commercial farmer, where I can produce and supply my vegetables to businesses and companies all over South Africa while creating job opportunities for the people. I would also love to have my own farming academy in the township, where I can train children on the importance of food security.”
Funding is the primary obstacle for smallholders like Mkabile. Because she operates within an informal settlement, she is unable to get a lease agreement and is, therefore, unable to apply for funding. “Everything I do at the moment is covered by the profits of my business,” she says. “It’s very difficult for me to expand because I have to use my profits to maintain the farm and support my family. I don’t even have an irrigation system—I currently use watering cans.”
While pests and extreme weather conditions do not pose a major threat for Mkabile, these factors can further complicate smallholders’ lives in other parts of the world. Rainfall inconsistency, in particular, is a significant challenge, says Flock.
“As they enter into each planting season, the biggest question facing smallholder farmers is when and for how long the rains will occur,” he says. “Fortunately, agricultural inputs that are drought resistant and those that promote more ‘green tech’—such as pesticides—are continuing to enter the market and are beginning to reach smallholder farmers.”
How the world is winning
Protecting and nourishing this crucial part of the agricultural supply chain is vital to long-term food security, not to mention the livelihoods of more than 500 million smallholder farmers. Numerous projects are facilitating on-the-ground training and education of farmers. In addition, multistakeholder organizations are providing access to better-quality seeds, improved machinery, fertilizers and pesticides, and funding and markets.
