In an effort to level up smallholders in selected regions of Limpopo, CropLife SA is exposing rural farmers to the benefits of plant biotechnology in a big way.
During a recent visit to Limpopo, CropLife SA in collaboration with Mega Biotech and the Limpopo department of agriculture and rural development (LDARD), conducted biotech maize demonstration trials, and responsible use of crop protection solutions.
Local farmers were excited about the training opportunity which is expected to help them turn a new agricultural leaf while increasing crop yields and reducing the use of agrochemicals.
According to CropLife SA, their farmer advocacy and outreach campaign forms part of a larger effort to bridge knowledge gaps that exist around plant biotechnology, best practices and responsible use of pesticides among others.
Preparing for the worst
“On a daily basis we are confronted with headlines signalling the urgency to address issues concerning the climate crisis, food shortages, our deteriorating environment, and declining natural resources,” CropLife SA said.
“Farmers worldwide, both commercial and smallholder, will more frequently have to overcome the challenges posed by extreme weather events, pests and disease outbreaks, the rising cost of inputs and declining resources.”
Within this context, farmers will need all the help they can get in order to sustain production efficiencies and yield gains.
“This includes having access to all possible solutions on offer in the farmer’s toolbox, including innovations such as biotech seed to help them produce our food in an efficient, affordable and sustainable way,” CropLife SA said.
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Bringing benefits of plant biotechnology to smallholders
Farmers were trained on the responsible use of insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant seed technology.
Training topics also zoomed into how these traits work in the field to provide protection against targeted pests.
It also raises awareness of integrated pest management through good agricultural practices and the responsible use of agrochemical solutions. This includes handling, transport, storage, use and container disposal.
One-hectare biotech maize demonstration trials have been established in two smallholder farming locations north of Polokwane and in Giyani. Mega Biotech Solutions, in collaboration with the department of agriculture’s extension officers, selected the two farm locations.
The dedicated plots serve as a platform for training and information days for smallholder farmers from the surrounding areas.
One of the demonstration trial sites is in Giyani on the farm property of Jackson Baloyi, which is where the training took place. The site was planted on 2 November 2022 under irrigation.
“The project team is excited to get back into the field and engage our farmers on much-needed knowledge about the safe and responsible use of all crop protection solutions available to them,” CropLife SA said.
The farmer training initiative represents a collective team effort involving CropLife SA together with its service provider, Mega Biotech Solutions, and collaborating partners, Corteva Agriscience and the LDARD.
CropLife SA appointed Mega Biotech as the service provider to coordinate the planting of herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant maize demonstration trials.
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