Search

The article talks about agroecology as the future to the sustainable farming. It discusses impact of rapid anthropogenic change on the earth and humanity. It states that industrial agriculture is touted as the only way to feed the world's growing population and provide nutrition for the people across the world. It also mentions that need to establish alternative agricultural pathways that maximize livelihood creation and sustainable food production.

Millions of small-scale farmers on the African continent save and exchange the seed of their traditional crops, yet the social and cultural values of these systems remain under-researched. Through ethnographic research conducted in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, this study sets out to improve understanding about the mechanisms and significance of traditional seed exchange networks. Findings suggest that traditional crops are central; their seed is highly valued; and systems of exchange play complex and nuanced roles. Critical for food sovereignty, these systems act as a back-up in the case of harvest failure, and enhance social cohesion through strengthening community and familial ties. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]