“My Hands Are My Tractor” City Farmers Say and Tackle Food Insecurity

Urban farmers in South Africa’s biggest city, Johannesburg, are stepping in to tackle the rapid urbanization by finding land and space to grow fresh produce and help feed their community.

“We may not have money, but we have land and food. And to garden here is our therapy,” says 60-year-old Refiloe Molefe, who asked the city for land in Betrams, Johannesburg to grow food for the creche she was running and to train others to farm to help them feed themselves. “For now, my hands are my tractor. Imagine if I had a real one. I would grow so much!”

Over 40% of homes in Johannesburg households have limited access to affordable food, according to the urban development think tank South African Cities Network. But the World Health Organization says that urban green spaces can not only tackle this issue, but also reduce noise and pollution, keep the air cooler, and fight depression and anxiety.

Nthatisi Modingoane, a spokesman for the City of Johannesburg, says that the local government is encouraging more youth to farm by providing “tools, tractor services, accredited training, business development and access to land”, adding that Johannesburg currently has around 300 urban farms and growing.