By Muifha Tshifhiwa and Setumu Mahlatse
A group of Limpopo Province farmers practising Conservation Agriculture (CA) undertook a five-day exposure visit to KwaZulu Natal (KZN), Amajuba and UKhahlamba districts respectively on 20-24 February regarding CA.
The exposure tour was an initiative by the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in partnership with the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
“Conservation Agriculture, a system that amongst others maintains permanent soil cover, reduces land degradation, increases water and nutrient efficiency. We have the responsibility as a collective to care for our land and to ensure that everyone is on board regarding CA and Climate Smart Agriculture,” DALRRD Land Care Deputy Director, Klaas Mampholo said this while addressing the farmers during the visit.
Mampholo has considered Mpumalanga as the leading province concerning the adoption of CA, followed by KZN nationally. In the host province, Ukhahlamba and Amajuba districts were leading in the CA adoption.
FAO CA project leader, Sanele Dlomo indicated to farmers that FAO is helping the DALRRD with technical support to the farmers and ensuring food insecurity and malnutrition is eradicated. He touched on the issue of Malabo Declaration, which saw FAO through its member states declaring to have 25 million farmers across Africa by the year 2025 assisted with sustainable production ways. These take into consideration climate change and climate viability.
KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Soil Scientist, Bright Mashiyana presented about the province’s best practices towards CA. He highlighted the importance of soil testing. He indicated amongst others that soil testing increases the use of fertilisers, ensures household food security and high production yields.
“Do not guess, soil test,” restated Mashiyana.
Dr Alan Manson gave presentation on cover crops, whilst Dr Suzette Bezuidenhout presented on Weed control, Archana Nunkumar on disease control in no-till maize, soya and dry beans, Nhlonipho Ngubane on insect-pest control in maize and James Arathon on soya/maize production and how to choose crops based on market changes.
Limpopo farmers have visited Celiwe Mazibuko, a young CA farmer specialising in grain production, namely, soya beans, sugar beans and maize in a 17hectare land. Celiwe said she started practising CA in 2019 after realising that her crops get washed away by rains every production season. “Like any other system of farming, CA has its challenges but a move from conventional farming was inevitable and the benefits are evident,” boasted Mazibuko.
The CA practice has made Mazibuko not to worry about the risk of losing her crops and soil nutrients to rain anymore. She added that her revenue has increased remarkably due to CA. She also said cover crops “helped in improving the fertility and quality of soil, conservation of moisture, expulsion of pests as some weeds are trap crops and reduction of water evaporation resulting from mulching as well as reduction of soil erosion to name the few”.
The Limpopo team was then led to the silos and Loskop farms in Bergville by Jabulani Mdluli, the Agric Advisor and a self-made mechanic from Bergville Local Agricultural Office under Ukhahlamba District Municipality. Mdluli is a committed official who brings tangible contribution to CA in soya beans and maize production in the KZN.
“Continuous soil tillage has massively contributed to soil degradation in many areas of our arable land. It is starts with us as farmers to bring about change and do away with the system that is slowly destroying our land,” indicated Limpopo CA farmer, Makhale Simeon on behalf of the visiting team.
“We thank the organisers of the tour and everyone who participated in empowering us with such priceless information filled tour,” he mentioned.
