Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Smallholder Farmers

latest news & developments
Doreen Badze, a traditional healer and agroecologist, leads the way in restoring Africa’s food sovereignty. From planting seeds to harvesting nutritious crops like spinach and okra, she demonstrates how women farmers are healing the land, empowering communities and nurturing sustainable, ecologically sound food systems.
AFRICA AGRICULTURE

African faith leaders demand reparations from Gates Foundation over industrial farming harm

More than 600 faith leaders across the continent say the Gates Foundation’s Green Revolution model has deepened poverty, degraded soils and undermined food sovereignty

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
Botswana has lifted its ban on fresh vegetable imports from South Africa after it struggled to meet local demand solely from domestic production. (Rogan Ward)
AFRICA

Pay a fair price for food to support smallholder farmers and workers

They produce about a third of the world’s food and fair pricing is critical to secure their livelihoods, build resilience and tackle issues such as food security and climate change

  • Paul Colditz
2 min read
AFRICA

Africa’s smallholder farmers get an ‘Uber’ for tractors

A farm equipment sharing application connects tractor owners and smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
African governments have been urged to make feasible policy shifts that will allow the agriculture sector and farming businesses to better weather the Covid-19 pandemic.
AFRICA

Covid-19 pandemic hurts African farmers’ production, income and food security

Forum urges African governments to enable fair policies that create room for agribusiness to thrive and to consult the sector when formulating these

  • Chris Gilili
2 min read
AFRICA AGRI TECH

Andrew Makenete joins Africa Agri Tech as an event ambassador

Makenete has a wealth of experience in the agricultural sector

  • Staff Reporter
4 min read
The issue of land expropriation without compensation had initially contributed to much uncertainty in the market and hurt business confidence. But we’ll give credit to the current administration that, at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, the issue didn’t warrant as much attention as previously. (Tiger Brands)
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT

Creating an exclusive South African economy

Every South African needs to be building a better future for tomorrow

  • Mary Jane Morifi
5 min read
Provincial premier Phumulo Masualle
AGRICULTURE

Eastern Cape gravitates towards breaking chains of poverty

Millions have been allocated to develop smallholder black farmers

  • Siya Miti
5 min read
Small family-run farms can help the African economy grow.
AFRICAN FARMERS

Empower ‘subsistence farmers’ to become profitable businesses

Agriculture is poised to drive a new era of inclusive economic growth for Africa – if smallholder farmers are given the tools to generate income.

  • Staff Reporter
4 min read
Agriculture running on the smell of an oil rag
AGRICULTURE

Agriculture running on the smell of an oil rag

Things have gone very wrong for Malawi’s president and that could cripple the government’s ability to deliver subsidised fertiliser and seed farmers.

  • Sean Christie
14 min read
SMALLHOLDER FARMERS

A garden to the rescue

Nicole Johnston reports on the important role smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe are playing by growing basic crops to feed their families.

  • Nicole Johnston
7 min read