Conservation agriculture in South Africa: lessons from case studies.

Abstract

Abstract Mainstreaming sustainable agriculture systems in South Africa has become imperative. Severe environmental degradation, low farm profitability and poverty associated with current conventional production systems have brought the agricultural sector to a crossroads. Conservation agriculture (CA) is an approach to managing agroecosystems for improved and sustained productivity, increased profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment. Since sustainable agriculture systems, such as CA, are social constructs, this 'paradigm change' or innovation process can only be undertaken on farms and by farmers, and has in fact already been happening for decades. This process thereby critically functions as on-farm, farmer-centered innovation systems (ISs), embracing not only the science suppliers but also the totality and interaction of actors involved in innovation. This chapter describes the diverse and risky South African environment, the major agrarian production systems, land degradation and the adoption of, and some initiatives on, CA mainstreaming. The latter emphasizes lessons learned from 2 recent case studies in South Africa. A review of a modelling approach for commercial grain production is provided in the first case. How smallholder structures are better defined and transformed through CA IS, whereby not only soil health and crop productivity are improved but also access to other components of the agricultural system, such as land, finance, inputs, technology, knowledge and diverse markets, are discussed in the second case.