Scaling-up Conservation Agriculture

In Southern Africa, smallholder agricultural production remains low, leaving farmers unable to meet household and national food requirements. Low production levels, particularly for cereal crops, are largely the result of erratic and unreliable rainfall rates and the failure of agricultural techniques to mitigate such conditions. Compounded by farmers’ inefficient use of agricultural resources (use of labour, soil supplements and rain water) current farming methods often contribute to soil degradation. Other factors include the limited use of improved seed and fertilizers, and inadequate agricultural extension systems. Increasing productivity in the face of climate variability is central to strengthening the resilience of these farming communities. Conservation Agriculture (CA) holds huge potential to address the interlinked problems of food insecurity, degradation of natural resources and poverty. Read more!