Conservation agriculture transforming farming in Southern Africa

Published 2024년 12월 5일

Tridge summary

Conservation agriculture, a sustainable farming method adopted by over 3 million farmers in Southern Africa, has proven to enhance soil health and boost crop yields, in some cases by up to 90% compared to conventional farming. This method, promoted by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) among other organizations, encourages minimal soil disturbance, crop rotation, and moisture conservation. The use of machines like basin diggers and tractors has also increased its appeal, reducing labor demands and offering additional income from renting out machinery. Despite its benefits, the widespread adoption of conservation agriculture faces challenges due to limited access to necessary resources and knowledge, emphasizing the need for continued support and policy integration for smallholder farmers to effectively combat soil degradation and climate change impacts.
Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Christian Thierfelder, Principal Scientist at CIMMYT, poses in a field that is being tested for conservation agriculture at Henderson Research Station, Harare, Zimbabwe. Credit, Busani Bafana/IPS BULAWAYO, Dec 05 (IPS) – On the dusty plains of Shamva District in Zimbabwe, Wilfred Mudavanhu’s maize field defies drought. With the El Niño-induced drought gripping several countries in Southern Africa, Mudavanhu’s maize crop is flourishing, thanks to an innovative farming method that helps keep moisture in the soil and promotes soil health. Once harvesting just 1.5 tonnes of maize (30-50 kg bags) each season, Mudavanhu’s harvest jumped to 2.5 tonnes of maize (50 bags) in the 2023/2024 cropping season. Mudavanhu is one of many farmers in Zimbabwe embracing conservation agriculture, a method that prioritizes minimal soil disturbance, crop rotation, and soil moisture conservation. The practice is complemented by other methods such as timely control of weeds, mulching, and farming on a ...

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