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Njabulo Mncwabe’s research has been a journey into understanding and supporting local food systems in Umbumbulu, KZN, highlighting the resilience and ingenuity of farmers. Photo Supplied.

“Umhlabathi impilo. Siyuthuli, siphila ngayo inhlabathi ngoba sobuyela kuyona ekugcineni” – Gogo Mthombeni, 88-year-old agroecological farmer, kaHwayi, Umbumbulu.

Translation: “Soil is life. We are dust, we are one with soil, we survive on soil because we will return to it in the end.”

University of Pretoria (UP) PhD candidate Njabulo Mncwabe’s research explores the agricultural practices, knowledge systems, and socioeconomic dynamics of farmers in Umbumbulu, KwaZulu-Natal. Her research has been a journey into understanding and supporting local food systems in Umbumbulu, highlighting the resilience and ingenuity of farmers. Mncwabe’s supervisor is Professor Marc Wegerif, co-Principal Investigator of the DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security’s (CoE-FS) Governance and Power programme.

Njabulo Mncwabe with one of the local farmers, who hosted her and Prof Wegerif. Photo Supplied.

Recently, Mncwabe and Professor Wegerif travelled to Umbumbulu to continue her CoE-FS-supported research. Here, Mncwabe reflects on the experience:

“Fieldwork at the research site has provided valuable insights into farmers’ strategies for addressing challenges, enhancing food security, promoting food sovereignty, agroecology, and sustaining their communities. Focusing on innovative and sustainable food production methods, I aim to identify lessons applicable to policymakers, agricultural organisations, and farming communities. I explore the role of local knowledge and cultural practices in shaping these systems and highlight successful innovations that increase resilience. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to broader discussions on food sovereignty and sustainability, advocating for community-driven approaches amid the dominance of industrial food systems.

“I am deeply grateful for Prof Marc Wegerif’s visit, whose guidance and active participation have been instrumental in shaping my approach and ensuring the integrity of my findings. His support has truly enriched this work and strengthened its contribution to the broader discourse on food sovereignty and sustainability,” said UP PhD candidate and CoE-FS grantee Njabulo Mncwabe. Photo Supplied.

Having my supervisor Professor Marc Wegerif visit my research site was an invaluable act in helping me further guide my research approach and deepen my understanding of the local food context. His active participation helped ensure the accuracy of my findings, and I am grateful for his support and guidance throughout this process.”

Professor Wegerif shared his experience too, saying, “It was very useful to be in the research site (we spent some days and nights — three I think — in the village staying with one of the farmers), to meet the farmers, see the fields, see the researcher in action and how she related to the research participants, some of whom she had clearly become close to. I feel better able to support the student with a bit of hands-on feel of what and who she is talking about”.