2.1 HISTORY OF URBAN AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA South Africa itself has a long history within the agricultural sector and the urban farming sector since its declaration as a republic in 1961. South Africa has been known for grains
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and cereals within the farming sector, growing these types of produce on over 60% of our available agricultural land. Urban farming became more popular during the Apartheid regime as more people re separated from these agricultural hubs in smaller underlying areas of the country, thus forcing the people who occupy these areas to produce their food. In 1994, after the government abolished the Apartheid regime, many of the effects of the administration re and are still visible. Whether you are wandering the streets of Johannesburg or walking through the suburbs of Mamelodi, the theme of urban agriculture stands out amongst the urban fabric. Wherever go, can see someone growing produce or working with livestock. Today (2021), can see
these urban farming initiatives have spread like wildfire. Following the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, many people re left without a steady income and thus not enough financial means to supply food. It left them with no other alternative than to grow their own produce, which has resulted in a sustainable means of income for many of these people or simply a better means of feeding their communities. It will not take more than five minutes of an online search to come across urban farmers in South Africa who have claimed to turn their back yards into a sustainable urban farm that feeds their families and provides them with an additional means of income.
Figure 5: Timeline of urban agriculture in South Africa [author, 2021]
