Agriculture Support Initiative Farmer Support for Building Agroecological Skills & Farmer Networks for Collective Action Amongst Small-Scale Farmers in the Olifants Basin

Authors: Derick du Toit and Bigboy Mkhabela (with inputs from Erna Kruger, John Nzira, Cryton Zazu, Sharon Pollard and Ancois de Villiers)

Small-scale farming is an important activity in the middle and lower parts of the Olifants River catchment. Despite this, small-scale farmers farm in a world of challenges which have negatively affected the value and perception attached to agriculture as a viable household livelihood option or contributor to food security. In our experience, there is little sense of pride, collective identity or empowerment which, we argue, is a major constraint to farmers realising their true place in society.