Background: Agriculture is crucial for economic growth, yet youth engagement in agricultural enterprises is declining due to concerns related to perceived profitability, resource access, and social stigmas. Understanding these determinants is vital for fostering youth interest in agriculture and promoting sustainable rural development and food security. Aim: This study examines the factors affecting youth engagement in agricultural enterprises in Umzimvubu Local Municipality, South Africa, and their implications for food security and agribusiness. Setting: Addressing youth unemployment and enhancing agriculture’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) require understanding barriers to youth participation. This study was conducted in Umzimvubu Local Municipality, South Africa. Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to 210 youths through stratified random sampling. Descriptive statistics and a univariate probit regression model were used for analysis. Results: Findings indicate male dominance in agriculture, with educational background positively correlating with participation. Single youths showed greater interest than married counterparts. Challenges like land availability and a lack of financial support hinder engagement. Significant determinants include age, education, farming skills, social group membership, and household revenue, while factors like household size, gender, and limited access to credit negatively impact willingness to participate. Conclusion: Addressing financial barriers through improved access to loans is essential to enhance youth involvement. Policies should cater to youth-specific traits and environmental challenges to build a resilient agricultural sector driven by young innovators. Contribution: The study emphasises the need for a comprehensive policy framework collaboratively developed by the government, the Department of Agriculture, and non-governmental organisations.

Climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAPs) are promoted as pathways for improving productivity and resilience among smallholder farmers; however, empirical evidence on their welfare effects remains limited in South Africa. This study examines the impact of CSAP adoption on household welfare among smallholder maize farmers in KwaZulu-Natal Province. A cross-sectional survey of 300 households was conducted using a multistage sampling approach. Welfare outcomes was measured using multidimensional indicators including the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), the Coping Strategy Index (CSI), and the Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) poverty index. An Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model was employed to correct for selection bias and to generate counterfactuals that estimate what adopters’ welfare would have been in the absence of CSAP uptake. Results show that access to extension, group membership, and training significantly increased the likelihood of CSAP adoption. ESR outcomes indicate that adopters had higher dietary diversity, lower food insecurity, and reduced reliance on severe coping strategies. Counterfactual analysis reveals that adopters would have experienced significantly poorer welfare outcomes had they not adopted CSAPs. The findings demonstrate that CSAP adoption yields measurable welfare benefits and improves household resilience. The study recommends targeted investments in extension support, farmer organizations, and institutional arrangements to accelerate the adoption of CSAP and enhance household welfare.

Intolerably high rates of food insecurity and micronutrient deficiencies still prevail at an alarming rate in rural poor communities who practice subsistence farming. Despite the fact that, the indigenous fruits and vegetables are abundantly available and are easily accessible in these rural communities. The consumption of indigenous vegetables and fruits can combat the food insecurity and micro-nutrient deficiencies in the resource-constrained communities. This is attributed to negative perceptions shared among rural communities specifically the younger generation are unaware about the indigenous foods. Against this background, the study was developed to assess awareness and perceptions towards indigenous fruits and vegetables in Port St Johns of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Intolerably high rates of food insecurity and micronutrient deficiencies still prevail at an alarming rate in rural poor communities that practice subsistence farming. Even though indigenous fruits and vegetables are abundantly available and are easily accessible in these rural communities. The consumption of indigenous vegetables and fruits can combat food insecurity and micro-nutrient deficiencies in resource-constrained communities. This is attributed to negative perceptions shared among rural communities, specifically the younger generation, who are unaware of indigenous foods. Against this background, the study was developed to assess awareness and perceptions towards indigenous fruits and vegetables in Port St. Johns of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to evaluate the availability of the perceptions of households and the contribution of indigenous fruits and vegetables to household food security. A total of 340 respondents were purposively selected in the study area. A positive impact on household food security was revealed, suggesting that consuming indigenous fruits and vegetables may address rural household dietary diversity and food insecurity. The study argues that indigenous fruits and vegetables may be used as a food security coping strategy at the household level in rural areas, given their availability, especially in summer. Additionally, dispelling several negative perceptions and targeting consumption drivers will enhance the food security nexus of indigenous fruits and vegetables at the household level.

The sustainable use of medicinal plants by smallholder farmers in the Amatole District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, plays a vital role in rural livelihoods. Despite challenges such as limited inputs, capital, institutional support and market access, the cultivation of medicinal plants significantly contributes to smallholder welfare. However, research valuing this production remains limited. We therefore assessed the welfare effects of smallholder participation in medicinal plant cultivation in Amatole. Primary data were collected from 150 smallholder farmers using structured questionnaires and a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression and propensity score matching were used for analysis. Findings indicate that female farmers dominate medicinal plant production, with an average age of 44 and 10 years of schooling. The average household size was six, with family labour supporting production. The average farm size was 1 hectare. Extension services played a key role in improving farmers’ knowledge. Participation was profitable, with an average monthly household income of ZAR19 091.72 and a return on investment of 0.71. Binary logistic regression showed that gender, household size, experience, extension visits and environmental protection positively influenced participation, while age and education had negative effects. Propensity score matching results revealed a significant positive impact of cultivation on farmers’ welfare, with an increase of ZAR5624.64 in farm returns at the 5% significance level. To enhance outcomes, we recommend targeted policies that improve funding, extension services and support for female and experienced farmers. Scaling up medicinal plant cultivation can improve rural livelihoods and advance sustainable development in the Amatole District Municipality.

Indigenous crops are well adapted to marginal conditions and rich in nutrients, making them promising contributors to food and nutrition security in rural South African communities. This study evaluated the consumer acceptability and community perceptions of stiff pap composite dishes incorporating pumpkin leaves, Cucurbita pumpkin, and cream-fleshed sweet potato (CFSP) among 60 rural participants. Employing a cross-sectional design, sensory testing using a nine-point hedonic scale and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted across the uMkhanyakude and King Cetshwayo District Municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. All three composite dishes were well-liked overall. The CFSP-based dish achieved the highest overall acceptability (7.68) and was the most preferred (40%; n = 24), while the pumpkin-based dish was the least preferred (38%; n = 23). Significant differences in taste and color were observed across dishes (p < 0.05). Focus groups highlighted that familiarity, flavor balance, preparation methods, and cultural norms shaped willingness to adopt these dishes, with novel combinations eliciting both curiosity and hesitation. Cultural norms, family preferences, and the traditional significance of stiff pap shape acceptance pathways. The findings suggest that integrating indigenous crops into culturally familiar staples can promote dietary diversification and support smallholder farming systems, with culturally sensitive culinary guidance serving as the key enabler for broader adoption. These findings imply that embedding indigenous crops within culturally central staples offers a practical, consumer-driven entry point for sustainable food system transformation, simultaneously advancing dietary diversity, smallholder livelihoods, and the resilience of rural food systems.