By Brandon Moss

Africa’s agricultural challenges extend beyond crop yields and access to modern technology. They also raise fundamental questions about land ownership, indigenous knowledge, environmental sustainability and who benefits from the continent’s food systems.

In an opinion article published by Daily Maverick on 8 October, South African smallholder farmer Nazeer Sonday argues that Africa’s dependence on industrial agriculture reflects a legacy of colonialism and economic inequality that continues to influence how land is managed, food is produced and agricultural wealth is distributed.

Sonday, who chairs the Philippi Horticultural Area Food & Farming Campaign in Cape Town, contends that agricultural modernisation has too often marginalised traditional farming knowledge in favour of input-intensive production systems built around synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, mechanisation and monoculture crops.

He argues that indigenous African communities developed sophisticated agricultural practices long before colonial rule, including integrated farming systems designed to work with local landscapes and ecological conditions.

One example is the historic Bokoni civilisation in present-day Mpumalanga, South Africa, where stone-walled terraces supported mixed farming systems involving livestock, sorghum and millet. Such practices demonstrate how earlier communities adapted agricultural production to their environments.

For Sonday, recognising these traditions is not simply about preserving history. It is about reconsidering how farming knowledge can contribute to soil conservation, biodiversity and resilience to climate change.

The environmental cost of intensive farming

Industrial agriculture has helped expand food production, but Sonday argues that its reliance on continuous chemical inputs and large-scale monocultures can carry significant environmental and economic costs.

Soil degradation, water contamination and declining biodiversity are among the concerns associated with poorly managed intensive farming systems. Heavy dependence on purchased inputs can also leave farmers exposed to fluctuations in fertiliser, seed and energy prices.

These pressures can be particularly difficult for smallholder producers, whose profitability often depends on the prices they receive from buyers and the cost of maintaining production.

Sonday draws on his own experience at the Philippi Horticultural Area, where he invested in intensive hydroponic tomato production and supplied a major retailer with approximately one tonne of produce each week.

Despite achieving high-quality production, he says the business collapsed within two years as fertiliser, seed and electricity costs rose while the prices paid for his produce remained low.

His experience illustrates a wider challenge for emerging farmers: successful production does not necessarily translate into a viable business when input suppliers and large buyers exert considerable influence over costs and selling prices.

Land inequality and the smallholder challenge

The debate also intersects with South Africa’s unresolved land inequalities and the position of smallholder farmers within established agricultural value chains.

Sonday argues that land reform has not adequately transformed the structure of agricultural ownership and that many emerging farmers continue to face barriers to accessing land, affordable finance, markets and infrastructure.

He also raises concerns about farmworker conditions and the concentration of economic power across the food value chain, from agricultural inputs and primary production to processing and retail.

These issues matter because food security depends on more than the volume of food produced. Household incomes, access to nutritious food, the affordability of agricultural products and the distribution of economic opportunities all influence whether communities benefit from the food system.

For smallholder farmers, improving access to markets and retaining a greater share of the value generated from their produce are therefore as important as increasing yields.

Regenerative farming offers another approach

Sonday advocates a transition towards what he calls “landculture”, an approach centred on ecological stewardship, indigenous knowledge and the relationship between communities and the land.

The concept places soil health, biodiversity and food quality alongside production, rather than measuring agricultural success primarily through the volume of commodities harvested.

At Vegkop Polyculture Farm in Cape Town, Sonday describes a model that integrates fruit and nut trees, berries, cover crops, livestock and aquaculture. The farm also aims to restore soil biology and address groundwater contamination through regenerative practices.

Approaches such as crop diversification, cover cropping, composting, agroforestry and integrated livestock systems can help farmers improve soil structure, manage water and reduce reliance on some purchased inputs when adapted to local conditions.

However, regenerative methods require appropriate knowledge, investment and support. Their results depend on factors including soil type, climate, crop selection and farm management, making locally tested approaches and practical farmer training essential.

Building agricultural sovereignty

Africa’s agricultural future will require a combination of productive farming systems, resilient supply chains and policies that allow farmers to participate more profitably in the food economy.

Modern technologies can contribute to this effort, but Sonday’s argument is that they should complement rather than automatically displace indigenous knowledge and ecological farming practices.

Governments, agricultural researchers and development organisations can support this transition by investing in soil restoration, farmer-led research, extension services, locally adapted seed systems and market infrastructure that gives smallholders more opportunities to process and sell their produce.

Land access, fairer commercial relationships and stronger rural institutions will also influence whether the benefits of agricultural development reach farming communities.

Ultimately, the debate is not simply about choosing traditional farming over modern technology. It is about building agricultural systems that protect natural resources, support viable farm businesses and provide communities with reliable access to nutritious food.

As climate pressures and food-security concerns intensify across Africa, soil health and the knowledge of the people who work the land will remain central to the continent’s ability to build a more resilient and inclusive agricultural future.