Farmer Support Group

Farmer Support Group (FSG) is a research, community development and outreach unit within the School of Agricultural Earth and Environmental Sciences (SAEES) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. FSG places emphasis on addressing the needs of resource-poor farmers, other land users and development practitioners in sustainable agriculture, food security, natural resource management, institutional development and entrepreneurship.

The unit is recognized internationally for its expertise in community participatory approaches, appropriate technology and indigenous knowledge creation. In this capacity, it facilitates networking and capacity-building, sustainable land management and improvement of the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

FSG’s projects focus on issues of food security, innovation, natural resource management, entrepreneurship development (business and marketing) and most importantly mitigation strategies towards climate change.

FSG staff members participate in offering academic programmes at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. They give guest lectures in Rural Resource Management where they impact their knowledge to University students. Students are equipped with professional and individual skills and experience to participate and contribute to working with rural communities.

FSG uses its vantage position of interacting with rural communities to facilitate the entry of SAEES academics to rural communities for research. University students are placed in rural communities to conduct research or internship.