8 Valedictory Address

8.1 Minister of Environment, Zimbabwe 

Soil degradation is on the increase worldwide, especially in the countries within the tropics. 

Mismanagement of arable areas by farmers and grazing areas by livestock owners is one of the major causes of soil degradation. More sustainable management of lands would reduce environmental pressures. Conservation tillage, i.e. reduced or no tillage, is the key to sustainable arable land management as it protects the soil resources, increases the efficiency of water use and, of special importance in semi-arid areas, reduces the effects of droughts. 

New approaches and strategies are required to promote conservation tillage, and this workshop has concentrated on the discussion and definition of strategies to promote the adoption of conservation tillage by farming communities, best done by a partnership of all stakeholders, e.g. small holders, commercial farmers; policy makers; government services; manufacturers of farm implements and chemical inputs; etc. 

Farmers must be encouraged to express their needs and objectives as well as to experiment with new techniques. In addition information flow has to be eased within each country as well as between countries within the region and between Africa and Latin America. 

The workshop participants started to design the frame for national action plans for the promotion of conservation tillage. The time was to short to finalize and the participants will continue after having returned to their countries. 

This workshop was a first step the strategies defined by the participants should lead to further actions. Outlook: successful implementation of the strategies developed by this workshop should help to slow down the process of soil degradation and destruction of the environment. They should contribute to sustainable agricultural and rural development and by this alleviate poverty, food shortages and improve the livelihood of the rural population