By Lebogang Mashala
The Earth Harvest Gala will explore the impact of indigenous knowledge systems on agriculture and rural development.
African Farming Magazine will host its inaugural Earth Harvest Gala, an initiative to celebrate agriculture as an integral part of our heritage. This event will also explore the impact of indigenous knowledge systems on agriculture and rural development. The gala will take place at the Bakone Malapa Museum in Polokwane, Limpopo, on 22 November 2024.
Under the theme “Agri-is-our-Culture,” the Earth Harvest Gala will welcome over 200 subsistence and smallholder farmers from Limpopo and neighbouring provinces. The event honours our agricultural heritage and seeks to uncover economic opportunities in agriculture, focusing on the role of Indigenous knowledge in promoting sustainable practices and advancing rural development.
Indigenous communities worldwide have developed sustainable farming practices that have supported their societies for generations. As we face the growing challenges of feeding an increasing population and preserving natural resources amid climate change, these ancient practices are being revisited as potential solutions.
These practices prioritise soil and environmental health, the nutrient content of crops and animal products, and the physical well-being of the community. Indigenous agricultural techniques are culturally significant and practically applicable in addressing today’s food security issues.
They represent effective and environmentally friendly methods of farming.
The day will feature two panel discussions centered on Indigenous knowledge systems and practices that have the potential to enhance food security for crop and animal production. Emmanuel Modau, known as the “Father of the Bosvelder Sheep”, will be among the speakers. Modau raises Indigenous Veld Goats, Bosvelder Sheep, and Savanna Goats on his farm outside Makhado in Limpopo.
The Indigenous Veld Goat (IVG) is native to southern Africa and was nearly driven to extinction due to the development and purification of the Boer Goat. However, thanks to visionary farmers like Modau and the ones before him, who have worked tirelessly to preserve this breed, the IVG has been saved. Over centuries, the Veld Goat has survived a long and perilous migration journey through Africa, with its genetics significantly shaped by natural selection.
Modau earned the title “Father of the Bosvelder” due to his role as a co-founder of this emerging breed, which is soon to be officially registered. In 2009, sheep producers, including Modau, began developing the Bosvelder breed, ideally consisting of 50% Bapedi, 25% White Dorper, and 25% Van Rooy sheep. The goal was to create an animal capable of thriving in the challenging conditions of the Bushveld while offering resistance to heartwater disease and parasites. Many refer to the Bosvelder as “Built from Africa’s history for a future in the Bushveld.”
Gavin Bristow, a renowned Bonsmara cattle breeder and owner of Bristow Bonsmaras, will also speak at the Gala. His herd is among the oldest and original Bonsmara herds in the country. In the 1930s, Gavin’s grandfather, Ridgeway Bristow, collaborated with Professor Jan Bonsma (the father of the Bonsmara breed) to establish a breeding program aimed at producing cattle suitable for South Africa’s hardy bushveld conditions. This program marked the beginning of the Bonsmara breed.
The Bonsmara is celebrated for its high-quality beef and resistance to local diseases. Originating in South Africa, the breed was developed through cross-matings and back-crosses between the Afrikaner, Hereford, and Shorthorn cattle breeds.
Other speakers include Professor Moshibudi Paulina Bopape-Mabapa, Head of the Department of Plant Production, Soil Science, and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Limpopo’s School of Agriculture and Environmental Science; Dr. Lerato Matsuanyane, research team manager overseeing farmer support, commercialisation, and enterprise development at the Agricultural Research Council; and Selinah Khutso Ntjana, a cattle and goat breeder who processes goat meat into beauty and health products.
Lebogang Mashala, editor of African Farming, says attendees will enjoy delicious food throughout the day, featuring locally sourced dishes that showcase the best Indigenous ingredients and culinary heritage.
Various local groups, including Dikgwari tsa Manyalo, will also entertain them. “We will also have one of the country’s farming talents, Amos Njoro, a commercial grain farmer turned gospel singer, who will be part of the entertainment,” Mashala said.
“We believe that this event will provide a unique opportunity to celebrate our heritage, reconnect Indigenous people with the land, and inspire them to embrace agriculture while integrating Indigenous knowledge for self-sufficiency, economic growth, and rural development,” Mashala says.
