South Africa’s agricultural sector faces a deep economic divide, with small-scale and subsistence black-owned farms struggling while white-owned commercial farms are well-resourced. Despite this polarization, rural farming communities have shown remarkable resilience, which can be leveraged to address socioeconomic disparities. However, in this context, there is limited information on the role of indigenous and traditional foods, particularly underutilized indigenous and traditional food crops (UITFCs). Despite their full significance to rural livelihoods, the agricultural policy has yet to incorporate UITFCs. This paper addresses this gap by analyzing themes related to UITFCs, gender, the environment, and rural livelihoods using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and interviews. The findings confirm that UITFCs play a vital role in rural farming communities, offering readily available and accessible food sources that align with the FAO’s food policy on food security. The cultivation and use of UITFCs are crucial in addressing food security at the household level while preserving dignity. UITFCs are a critical livelihood strategy for many rural people, helping them improve their socioeconomic status. Therefore, there is a need for these crops to be overtly integrated into South Africa’s national agricultural policy.

South Africa, a rich tapestry of diverse communities, is home to at least nine major ethnic groups (Zulu, Xhosa, Bapedi [North Sotho], Batswana, South Ndebele, Basotho [South Sotho], Venda, Tsonga, and Swati). Each group, deeply rooted in their culture and traditions, consumes a unique array of foods. Often considered indigenous, these foods are sourced from the wild and grown using traditional production techniques. The literature indicates indigenous foods have been a staple in many parts of the country for centuries. Although this study's findings are based on three districts in northern KwaZulu-Natal, similarities have been noted in previous studies conducted within and across regions, particularly in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The research methodology involved using the Chi-square test method, a correlation analysis, and the computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software package Atlas. Ti. These methods were used to determine the existing relationship between extension services and the production of underutilised indigenous food crops (UIFCs). Theoretical findings then corroborated the statistical data. This research's findings imply that while several agricultural extension service providers (AESPs) advise on the production and utilisation of UIFCs, the inverse was true of others. Participants indicated that much of the knowledge passed to them mainly involved exotic vegetables such as Spinacia oleracea and Brassica oleracea and excluded local foods such as Bidens pilosa and Momordica foetida. One of the emerging themes was AESPs' invisibility in communities, which was found to be a contributing factor to non-inclusive food systems. Thus, the study contributes to the knowledge domain by outlining a need for AESPs' visibility in communities and accentuates opportunities that AESPs miss in not participating in building inclusive food systems. The paper concludes by recommending the inclusion of UIFCs in the continued professional development (CPD) of AESPs, wherein the significance of UIFCs would be enshrined.

Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge in South Africa, particularly in rural and township communities constrained by limited resources and environmental degradation. This qualitative study explores the potential of conservation agriculture (CA) as a sustainable farming method to enhance food security among small- to medium-scale farmers within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in the Eastern Cape. Through purposive and snowball sampling, interviews were conducted with CA practitioners to understand their practices, motivations, and perceptions. Thematic analysis revealed diverse adoption patterns, ranging from full implementation to selective integration of CA principles, influenced by contextual, economic, and knowledge-based factors. Participants highlighted CA's role in restoring soil health, reducing dependence on agrochemicals, and fostering long-term resilience against climate variability. However, the high initial costs, delayed yield improvements, and limited institutional support emerged as significant barriers. The study underscores the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach, including government, NGOs, academia, and the private sector, to foster wider adoption of CA. Such collaboration should prioritize tailored support mechanisms, knowledge-sharing platforms, and enabling policies that center on resource-constrained farmers, particularly women and youth. Ultimately, CA presents a viable pathway to achieving both environmental sustainability and household-level food security in vulnerable communities.