Learn about the proven impact of conservation agriculture on smallholder farmers: helping their productivity and profitability while improving the environment.
In the vast agricultural landscapes of sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder farmers form the backbone of food production. Yet, they face a multitude of challenges exacerbated by climate change, including unpredictable weather patterns, soil degradation, and dwindling yields, leading to poorer yields and reduced income for farmers.
In the context of these very real challenges, conservation agriculture (CA) stands out as a potential solution. Unlike traditional farming methods that involve extensive tillage and soil disturbance, CA emphasises three core principles:
By adhering to these principles, farmers can enhance soil health, increase productivity, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Conservation agriculture is also 20-50% less labour-intensive than mainstream farming, making it more efficient and viable for small producers and helping them improve and sustain production and profitability.
Despite these benefits, the adoption of CA in South Africa has been relatively slow, compounded by several underlying factors, including a lack of awareness, knowledge and understanding of:
In South Africa, the prevailing crop production systems reliant on intensive and continuous soil tillage have resulted in alarmingly high rates of soil degradation, particularly in grain-producing regions. This degradation exacerbates existing challenges related to profitability and poverty in rural areas. To provide farmers with a better chance of sustaining their livelihoods and to achieve sustainable and economically viable agriculture, there is an urgent need to overhaul traditional paradigms of agricultural production and management.
In response to these pressing issues, initiatives like the Conservation Agriculture Farmer Innovation Programme (CA FIP) have emerged to empower farmers with sustainable solutions. The mission of the CA FIP is to guide, coordinate and facilitate research, development and adaptation of appropriate conservation agriculture systems for a range of diverse and unique situations in the whole grain production area of South Africa.
Since its inception in 2013, the CA FIP programme has diligently worked alongside local small-scale farmers and researchers to implement on-farm trials and disseminate crucial findings. Through collaborative efforts, the CA FIP has not only generated valuable data but has also fostered a culture of knowledge sharing and empowerment within farming communities.
Through training programs, on-farm trials, and knowledge exchange initiatives, farmers have gained the necessary skills and resources to implement CA practices effectively. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s report, ‘CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE: Evidence-based Case Studies in South Africa’, features recent results achieved by the programme.
The proven impact of conservation agriculture on smallholder farmers cannot be overstated. CA helps smallholder farmers attain higher levels of productivity and profitability while improving soil health and the environment.
With initiatives like the CA FIP leading the charge, farmers are empowered to embrace resilient and sustainable farming practices. Through farmer-led innovation, partnership, and policy support, CA has the potential to transform agricultural landscapes, enhance food security, and promote environmental sustainability on a global scale.
Alex is Business Development Manager at RegenZ. He's inspired by the potential of regenerative farming and takes a special interest in the technology and products that are moving agriculture in a more sustainable direction.