Farming for the future The steady growth of agritourism
In a world where people increasingly yearn for a simpler, healthier lifestyle, agritourism has become a popular way to spend time in the South African platteland. Madeleine Barnard chatted to a number of farmers who have made some smart moves.
Somewhere in our memory bank, most of us have a picture of a place where the rhythm of life beats more slowly, a place where we rise with the sun and go to bed early for the soundest sleep ever.
The farm visits of my childhood are crystal-clear in my mind’s eye. I can smell the dung fires that burned on our family farm in the Free State on bitterly cold winter mornings, everything white with frost. Hear the cattle and sheep and chickens. Feel the icy tip of my nose tingling in the steam that rose from the mug of coffee clasped in my hands.
When people grow tired of city life and decide to get away for a healthy dose of the platteland, they tend to head to a dorpie somewhere. And while this form of tourism is popular, and always will be, there is a simpler, soul-enriching alternative on the rise: agritourism. Diversifying into tourism We all know agriculture isn’t for sissies: farmers are not only at the mercy of the elements but they also have to face many challenges unique to South Africa. This is why more farmers are considering new avenues for generating income. And in the process they expose visitors to the qualities of farm living for which so many of us are yearning.
Jacqui Taylor, founder and managing director of Agritourism Africa, is agritourism’s most passionate advocate. She grew up on a farm.
“My parents were farm managers and both closely involved in the communities on and around the farm,” Jacqui says. “This led to me growing up in an environment where rural development and job creation were everyday realities.”
In 2016, with the increasing migration of platteland residents to South African cities, Jacqui decided she wanted to do something to help prevent the decline of the platteland. She started the website
agritourismafrica.com as a platform where farmers could showcase their farms, making it easy for visitors to find the activities and accommodation on offer.
How does agritourism differ from “ordinary” tourism?
“Globally, agritourism is a growing and sustainable tourism experience,” Jacqui says. “This includes any tourism activity on a working farm that is connected to its activities and its charm.”
It can involve anything from tasting and buying farm products to milking cows. Game viewing, birdwatching, fishing and cycling on a farm all fall under the umbrella concept of agritourism. Guest accommodation is a bonus.
Jacqui says it has to be a working farm that offers its owners the opportunity to add another source of farm-based income to their existing income stream.
A blessing in disguise
Jacqui says the Covid-19 pandemic was a blessing in disguise for rural communities and farmers. During the hard lockdown, people increasingly began to appreciate the health benefits of spending time in the outdoors. After months of restrictions and the realisation that the chances of infection are greater in crowded spaces, the fresh air of farm life suddenly became a lot more appealing to people planning a holiday. Farmers need to use this opportunity to their advantage.
Working with Mother Nature in the Free State
JB van den Berg is one of a growing number of farmers who are in the process of adapting their farms to welcome visitors. The Van den Bergs farm near Bothaville, the mielie capital of South Africa, in the province that will always hold a special place in my heart – the Free State. Their cash crops are maize, soya, sunflowers and wheat, and they also farm with cattle, sheep and pigs.
JB is a firm believer in working with Mother Nature. He says research and training in regenerative agriculture practices are conducted at their Baruch Centre on the farm. They have found ample proof that practising minimalist farming can be profitable, while you’re using natural resources with care. “Our ‘back to ancient paths’ model focuses on putting carbon back into the soil, which increases the rate of water infiltration and improves natural soil fertility. We look to our Creator and strive to farm closer to His nature.”
The farm offers a seasonal Farm Fresh Market where local producers can sell their fresh and processed products. And the Van den Bergs are turning a dwelling on the farm into a guesthouse so visitors can experience all aspects of farm life, from waking up when the rooster crows to enjoying fresh food – literally “farm to fork”.
“We are also experimenting with Berg Foods Boxes, which go out to clients on a monthly basis,” JB says. Contact jb@bergfoods.com 082 524 9070
Berries galore in the Gamtoos Valley
Growing numbers of farms in the Gamtoos Valley, the eastern gateway to the Baviaanskloof in the Eastern Cape, are adapting to sharing their farming activities with visitors, says Nichola Uys of Gamtoos Tourism. >
“Our ‘back to ancient paths’ model focuses on putting carbon back into the soil, which improves natural soil fertility.”