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Induna Sifiso Zulu will be one of two South African farmers attending the Farmers’ Rights  multi-stakeholder seminar on 25 October 2022 in Lusaka, Zambia, followed by other opportunities to engage and learn from farmers from several African countries. He is accompanied by Thombithini Ndwandwe, from Biowatch and Mashudu Takalani, EarthLore’s programme facilitator. The event is coordinated by the Geography Department at the University of Cape Town and other Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI) partners, including EarthLore. It is part of the Farmers’ Rights campaign that links together seed fairs taking place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia through a virtual caravan.

Sifiso Zulu, in addition to  being a traditional leader who is proud of his isiSwathi culture and traditions and understands the value and power of reviving them, is a committed and successful farmer using traditional seeds and traditional farming practices augmented by agroecology. He has been on several learning exchanges to other farming communities, and always returns to his home in Elukwatini, Mpumalanga, with seeds and knowledge to share. He was particularly inspired by his trip to the Bikita farming communities in Zimbabwe, in 2019. 

EarthLore’s work focuses on rebuilding soils that have been damaged for decades through the use of poisonous chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The work also involves effective water harvesting techniques and the rehabilitation and protection of the broader landscape, including sacred natural sites. This approach helps to mitigate climate change and contributes to the general well-being of the planet. 

The current campaign for Farmers’ Rights and the growing agroecology movement is fortunate to have the involvement of Induna Zulu who is young, energetic, enthusiastic and committed to a sustainable local food system that benefits local farmers, local communities, and boosts the local economy. 

This recent interview with Induna Zulu clarifies his position on Farmers’ Rights and the importance of traditional seeds to farmers and farming communities. It was videoed at EarthLore’s annual Elukwatini Seed and Food Fair on 6 October 2022. He makes it clear that access to and sharing of traditional seeds is an ancient practice that dates back centuries and that current attempts by seed companies and governments to control traditional seeds will not succeed because farmers across the world are standing together and becoming a strong force to be reckoned with.