This year the Netherlands experienced it’s driest March in recorded history. While the average rainfall for March is 53mm, this year only 6mm fell. The impact of this extreme weather event has brought 80 wildfires in the last month and pushed farmers to import more feed for livestock. Although the Netherlands is well adapted to manage wet conditions, managing drought is something we are less experienced with. South Africa, on the other hand, is no stranger to managing both wet and dry extremes as the country has navigated extreme droughts and floods over the past few years. To mitigate the impacts of these extremes, South African farmers are adopting new ways of doing things, with regenerative, conservation and climate-smart agriculture becoming popular practices.
These innovative farming methods are becoming increasingly widespread in South Africa, in some areas more than 50% of farmers have adopted one of these approaches. These farmers also experience clear advantages compared to their neighbors who are not adopting these practices. These adaptations are also not limited to specific sectors or regions, but can be seen across the agri sector in all corners of the country, which has very different climatic conditions.
How South African farmers adapt to climate extremes
In the Western Cape province, which is characterized by a mediterranean climate, 51% of the grain sector employes regenerative practices which include no-till or crop rotation and the wine sector is also well ahead of the curve with 60 farms producing in a regenerative or biodiversity-friendly way. These wine farms also receive Conservation Champion certification from WWF. On the east coast there are examples in KwaZulu-Natal where cover crop and livestock integration have demonstrated reduced soil erosion and increased water retention, while providing high-quality cattle grazing. In the northern part of South Africa, in tropical and subtropical Limpopo, we see more nature-inclusive methods in tomato production which include composting and organic inputs. These examples showcase the diversity of South Africa’s agriculture sector and how conservation/regenerative agriculture is not limited to any particular part.
Progress in innovative farming practices
South Africa showcases great progress in the transition towards these innovative farming practices, which often makes it easy overlook the challenges that come with the transition. Many farmers have made the transition because their soil quality has been depleted and they simply had no choice but to change. However, this initial switch can prove costly with many farmers experiencing an initial dip in profitability. It can take anywhere between three and seven years to return to the same levels of profitability as the soil adjusts and begins to restore itself without synthetic inputs. This is coupled with the cost of new technology and machinery. Additionally, there is a lack of financial packages and tools to assist farmers with these initial cost hurdles. Other challenges include a lack of knowledge on regenerative/conservation agriculture methods and practices, competing short-term priorities vs long-term benefits and a hesitancy to abandon existing knowledge and practices.
Stronger profits, greater yields
Despite these challenges, with time farmers see a stronger profit which is attributed to greater yields in addition to the reduced input costs that arise from the reduction of synthetic inputs. Farmers experienced enhanced soil organic matter, structure and biodiversity which leads to better water retention and nutrient cycling. Reduced evaporation and rainwater infiltration helps farmers to cope with drought, which is becoming increasingly necessary as South Africa grapples with longer and hotter droughts. Reduced soil erosion as a result of these adaptations has proved very valuable in wetter conditions where we have witnessed first-hand regenerative fields that are able to hold excess water following periods of increased rainfall.
Building climate resilience together
The LAN team in Pretoria has been exploring initiatives in South African agriculture to build a climate-smart agricultural system and how these can lead to further collaboration between the Netherlands and South Africa. Conservation/regenerative agriculture is well developed in South Africa and is practiced across the country’s different climatic regions, in different subsectors in order to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather patterns and build a resilient production system. These practical experiences and examples can be valuable for the Netherlands and help us explore new ways of managing and mitigating the impact of these droughts that we are experiencing.
New technology and innovations
On the other hand, these transitions require a lot of new technology, innovations and monitoring tools in order to assess the impact and benefits. This opens the door for Dutch companies and knowledge institutes to support the adoption of conservation/regenerative agriculture in South Africa. For example soil sensors can help farmers monitor changes in carbon or nutrient content of the soil, while new seeds can help to produce sufficient crop quantities with less water. South Africa’s farmers run highly advanced and organized operations, and actively seek the latest innovations to streamline operations, reduce costs and improve the quality of their crops. Additionally, the data provided by monitoring technology can assist financial institutions to develop financial tools to make these transitions more feasible.
More information
The LAN team in Pretoria is ready and willing to facilitate partnerships on this theme. Already, we have invested in a mapping of conservation/regenerative agriculture in South Africa which will provide a comprehensive understanding of the landscape and also define opportunities for partnerships, business and exchange of knowledge. If you have questions or are interested to explore these opportunities further, please contact the team in Pretoria on PRE-LVVN@minbuza.nl