WINDHOEK – Namibian small scale and communal farmers still have a long way to go in learning how to prepare their crop fields for No-Till conventional row crop production.
But within the next three years they could become another success story of this production system that has grabbed the attention of organic farmers worldwide. The huge advantages of the organic No-Till system was demonstrated recently during an Organic Conference in Dordabis. One of the advocates of the system that promotes crop residue on fields to avoid annual tillage and preserve the soil, local businessman Gerhard Baufeldt, says results, combined with research findings that no-tillage systems with cover crops can substantially rebuild soil organic matter and soil quality, have stimulated widespread interest in developing organic No-Tillage systems. His first consignment of 25 locally-manufactured rippers is ready for shipping to Senegal after he paid a successful visit to that country last year.
Baufeldt builds planters and rippers in his Windhoek workshop and his rippers formed part of the handover of tractors worth some N$5.5 million to communal farmers in Ondangwa and Rundu on November 21 and 22. Despite the proven success of the method, it is apparent on the eve of the new planting season that Namibian farmers still have to come to grips with the system. All crop residue of the previous season is contained to form a mat of plant material (mulch) that prevents soil moisture from evaporating and also provides protection from soil erosion and minimises wind erosion. “Because the cover crop mat shades out weeds, the farmer does not need to use herbicides. Tilling the fields in the conventional way leads to desertification, higher labour and fuel costs. While there are many benefits to adopting a no-till organic crop system, the most obvious benefit to farmers will be sustainability of high yielding soils.”
Baufeldt recommends the application of conservation agriculture (CA) following the record to the following record-breaking yields of maize, sorghum and mahangu in the seven crop producing regions in the North this season. Namibian communal farmers must start preparing to introduce the next step up from CA which is the Organic No-Tilling System. A benefit of using a front-mounted roller/crimper (R/C) is that you can roll the cover crop and plant the cash crop at the same time, thus reducing field operations to a single pass. The reduction in tillage as well as wheel compaction enhances the preservation of a healthier soil quality. Less time spent on operating heavy machinery in the field means less soil compaction and better water infiltration. The rolled cover crops also aid the enhancement of soil moisture by creating a moisture reserve underground that can supply moist to plants for up to six weeks during periods of no rain.
Baufeldt says the ground cover will consist of legumes (cover crop) as well as crop residue and must stay in the field until the main planting season. A specially designed coulter cutter and row opener is then used to cut open the mulch layer. Farmers are able to plant their cash crops at the same time if they make use of the Baufi’s implements. “If implemented on a national scale, this system, which requires minimum input and produce maximum output will change the landscape of conventional crop farming in the seven crop regions forever. Crop yields of six tonnes of mahangu and more per hectare have been recorded during the current season. We will become self-sustaining and within five years be ready to start exporting instead of importing maize and mahangu to the tune of N$250 million annually.”
Baufeldt further opines that money could be well-spent on a system that will bring spin-offs like social upliftment, training, improved health status and business opportunities and solve many of the current problems associated with urbanisation.
By Deon Schlechter