Sustaining and protecting the land for future generations requires a more all-hands-on-deck approach. In a recent Gather To Grow session on Twitter, experts discussed enhancing agriculture and the valuable contributions of ecosystems.
Safari guide Japie Potgieter said agriculture and conservation cannot be separated. There is a great need for the two to be nurtured because one cannot do without the other, he explained.
“An ecosystem is a system with a lot of different components which function in a certain geographical area, and those components will include the biotic, the living parts of the system which will be things from the soil, trees, water, and animals.”
In the session, he also explained what is meant by abiotic and how important it is for everyone to be on the same page when it comes to preserving the land.
Importance of understanding the soil
Ashley Stainthorpe, a camera operator and social media manager at Painteddog TV, emphasised the importance of soil fertility and soil health, adding that farmers need to take care of these elements.
“Education remains key in ensuring that farmers are in the know on the importance of having a soil that is healthy and leads to great fruits in terms of produce they harvest,” Stainthorpe said.
The session also explored the role of rural communities in ecosystems and the importance of diversification in this context. Potgieter pointed to multi-cropping and how this can help with soil health.
Benefits of diversification
“They contribute directly to the crop yield and the physical organism. This will be good for types of farming in rural or game reserves, it is essential that people need to be educated that they do not have to put all their eggs in one basket by doing one crop,” he said.
To listen to the full session, click here.
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