Nurturing the farmers of tomorrow

THE future of agriculture relies heavily on nurturing the next generation of young, ambitious talent who are rooted in local soil.

- LOUIS STRYDOM

However, this growth needs to be bolstered by the right type of support to ensure a positive outlook for the industry. The truth is the age range of farmers isn’t as young as we would think.

AgriSA estimates the average age of a South African farmer to be around 57, while the latest Census of Commercial Agriculture puts the age at just over 50. Alarmingly, a hefty 65% of commercial farm managers were found to be between 45 and 65 years old.

Across the country, a generation of young farmers, many of whom are small-scale, is proving that agriculture can be innovative, sustainable, and a driver of inclusive economic growth. These are not traditional subsistence farmers; they are tech-savvy entrepreneurs using data, innovation and regenerative practices to feed communities and rebuild rural economies.

Barriers to a fruitful future

The barriers that they face, however, are well documented. We have rising input costs, grid instability, limited access to land, constrained market access, and a lack of finance - all of which are squeezing margins and blocking growth.