South Africa could be looking at serious food shortages by 2030. The food crisis can be prevented and the solutions lay in education and training.
The Southern Africa Food Lab has been working hard to find solutions for the looming food crisis. It is estimated that by 2030 South Africa will face shortages in food, escalated water costs and a very weak rand.
The Lab decided to work with various organisations to create some security for the future. It started by getting their message out. Informing South Africans about the crisis is key. They worked with the talented illustrator Gavin Thomson to tell the story of how the crisis could affect South Africans in the future.
This video is also available in isiZulu, isiXhosa and Afrikaans
17 Shaft decided to create a programme to educate and secure us from the 2030 future we may experience. In May 2016 they launched the 17 Shaft Leadership and Agro Ecology programme. Seven students were sent on a three month course, representing the Mopani Farmers Association.
The programme was set over three months so the students could work from seed to harvest, ensuring a well rounded education. They quickly implemented the knowledge within their communities.
The success of the course in 2016 has led to its continuation in 2017. It has stretched its reach to include Limpopo, Gauteng and the North West. Having just finished now in August it is exciting to see the future farmers of South Africa.
“Farming is not Man’s business, it is his moral duty, If we corrupt Agriculture we corrupt culture” – Alan Rosenberg
The students involved become the teachers within their communities, sharing their knowledge means the solutions to the food crisis come from more people.
The 2017 students have some amazing projects in their future, some will be teaching the elderly and the poor how to grow rich gardens making food availability easier and others will be teaching primary schools the skills needed to grow food gardens.
Watch the inspiring class of 2017’s video below.
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