OKALONGO – Never before has an unfolding drought sent out a louder and clearer message to all Namibians about the importance of preservation of crop farming soil and livestock grazing than the current situation in the North-Central communal areas of the country.
Speaking exclusively to crop and livestock producers in the Oshikoto, Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Kunene regions, it became apparent that the spill-over of the 2013 drought and the current severe dry spell have forced farmers in both industries to rethink their management strategies to save their agricultural heritage for the future generations. “Education and the practical implementation of that education” are the phrases that ring out from the ground level where some 130 000 communal producers are in a battle for survival as their crops hold little promise of fair yields and their livestock are struggling to survive in the absence of fodder.
The European Union’s Conservation Agriculture Project for Namibia via the International Food Organisation (FAO) of N$40 million was approved in 2013 for this proven practice. The practice, which minimises soil disturbance, maintains soil cover, and rotates crops, is a proven technique that improves soil fertility, and eliminates the efforts and costs associated with plowing. The programme was introduced in Namibia in 2005 but despite the clear benefits and successes of conservation agriculture around the world, and especially in Namibia, it is practiced by only some 800 communal farmers in Northern Namibia. The Namibia Specific Conservation Tillage (NSCT) technique was developed locally with locally manufactured implements and put to great use, increasing mahangu and maize crops of communal farmers by up to 1 500 percent. This success rate is now more than ever evident in the crop fields on these areas where the difference between conventional disc-harrowing and minimum tillage is as vast as night and day.
Councilors and CA practitioners themselves – in all the areas visited last week by Farmers’ Forum, confirmed that CA is widely regarded as a missed opportunity that can be changed through education, demonstration and policy and technical support. There is also consensus among many role players that this can only be done by expanding throughout the non-tropical dry land regions to support mainly smallholder farmers, who are the most vulnerable to crop failure and food insecurity and most in need of innovation and low-cost technology.
The focus should be on reduced tillage as the first step towards introducing the conservation system, rather than promoting all principles at once. This enables farmers to introduce changes incrementally, reducing risk and allowing gradual change. The elimination of plowing (zero-tillage) is in itself a major change in thinking. It means crops can be sown earlier, providing immediate improvements in the efficiency of water use and crop yields in most years, even in terrible dry times like now.
Crop residues are an important source of feed for livestock producers in the regions, and it is a major challenge to convince farmers to maintain cover to reduce erosion and improve soil. Crop rotations are currently dominated by cereals, and grain legume crops are not widely grown, but a more diverse rotation can have greater benefits.
Though the benefits of zero-tillage can be considerable, the challenge is to change the widespread misconception that ploughing is essential for weed and pest control, and seed bed preparation. Through education, demonstration and support, development partners and policymakers can help raise awareness and promote rapid adoption of zero-tillage. The experience of CA farmers provides important evidence of farmers who have successfully applied the principles of conservation agriculture.
A practical constraint to wider adoption is the limited availability of appropriate and affordable seeding machinery, critical for the approach to succeed. The specially designed and locally manufactured seeding equipment of Baufi’s Agricultural Supplies is capable of sowing into undisturbed soil where crop residues have been retained. These seeders also maximise seed germination and crop establishment allowing farmers to save up to two-thirds on seed costs. Namibia is in a privileged position as such specially designed seeding and planting equipment have been developed in Windhoek, and to such satisfaction that the proudly Namibian manufactured equipment has been exported to various African countries where it has proved itself as ground-braking tools in increased harvests.
Ideally this process should involve all stakeholders – researchers, extension specialists, manufacturers and other private industry partners, policymakers, and farmers. Farmers are rapidly convinced that tillage is not only unnecessary, but damaging, and the zero-tillage technology works. They are typically keen to purchase new zero-tillage seeders or convert their own seeders, and interest spreads quickly to neighboring villages and towns. The message from the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) is clear, farmers who convert to minimum tillage rarely, if ever, return to ploughing. The next challenge is to promote the retention of crop residues and diverse rotations, so that the full benefits of conservation agriculture can be realised.