As millions across Africa face hunger, a small-scale farmer on the outskirts of Johannesburg is demonstrating sustainable solutions while issuing a stark warning: governments must do more to support farmers to ensure food security.
Gregory Mkhize and his wife, Nthabiseng, run a farm that began as a response to the crippling COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing innovative and waste-free sustainable methods, their operation is a grassroots effort to combat hunger in a community where access to affordable, nutritious food remains a challenge.
Their call for support comes amid a dire global backdrop. According to the latest Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, approximately 673 million people experienced hunger in 2024. While this marks a slight improvement from the previous year, the situation remains critical, with hunger rising in Africa and Western Asia.
South Africa finds itself in a complex position. It is ranked as the second most food-secure nation in Africa, after Morocco, by the Global Food Security Index. Yet, data from Statistics South Africa indicates that about 14 million people in the country experienced hunger in 2024.
On the Mkhizes’ farm, technology and traditional techniques work in tandem. A sophisticated drip irrigation system that requires no electricity detects soil moisture and delivers water precisely where needed. The farmers also practice intercropping, a method where crops like maize, beans, and pumpkins are planted together to mutually benefit from shade, natural nitrogen fixation, and soil coverage.
“When you intercrop, you are using companion plants,” Gregory Mkhize explained. “The maize goes higher, and then the beans… create nitrogen. It’s a nitrogen fixer for your soil and the pumpkin can create… mulch for the sun not to burn that soil. So everything works together.”
Deeply embedded in a community battling food insecurity, the Mkhizes have developed a unique system to make their produce more affordable. Community members receive a discount on fresh vegetables, such as a bunch of spinach, in exchange for bringing food waste or other organic materials that the farm uses to create its own inputs.
“We are creating our own inputs,” Mkhize said. “It’s so amazing with the system that we have created for community members so that they can afford this quality food.”
The couple also invests in the future, teaching farming to 54 local school children every weekend to encourage a new generation to grow their own food.
The issue of food security is currently in the global spotlight, with South Africa holding the G20 Presidency. An expert emphasized that while agriculture is key, international trade policies are equally vital.
“One of the key themes that is coming out of the G20 in South Africa is a theme of saying addressing poverty through trade,” the expert stated. He argued for keeping trade open with minimal friction and cost so that surplus food can reach areas with shortages. Combining this with economic stimulation in regions like Africa, the Middle East, and Asia could help bring hunger numbers down, as “in all of these, agriculture could play a part.”
A spokesperson for the South African government stated that the global community can no longer be indifferent to food insecurity. The principles adopted at the G20, including a focus on “Ubuntu,” will be carried forward to keep the issue on the agenda.
The spokesperson elaborated that food security goes beyond mere access to calories, stressing the importance of nutritious food. “It is important to make sure that your citizens are fed and fed well because it has an impact on other areas of governance,” the spokesperson said, noting the knock-on effects on public health, worker productivity, and the education system. “It is impossible for a young child to learn with an empty stomach.”
As Gregory Mkhize continues his work to feed his community, global leaders meeting in Johannesburg for the G20 summit are under increased pressure to fulfill the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of achieving zero hunger by 2030.