Global consensus indicates that traditional plough-based farming is unsustainable. Ploughing and residue removal expose soil to erosion, worsening soil degradation and climate vulnerability. Daneel Rossouw, head of sales for agriculture at Nedbank Commercial Banking, explores how conservation agriculture can enhance sustainability in South African agriculture.
The three key elements of conservation agriculture – minimum tillage, crop diversification and permanent cover – make it doubly valuable in our warming world: not only in reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere but also in mitigating climate-related events such as prolonged droughts and heavy rainfall.
It also improves soil health and fertility by conserving organic matter and minimising erosion, allowing soils to retain water and nutrients more effectively. This makes crops more resilient to extreme weather and improves water infiltration and retention, reducing the need for irrigation and boosting drought resistance.
Converting to conservation agriculture requires first correcting any deficiencies in the soil and negating any compacted layers. Unfortunately, the machinery required for this process is expensive but can be rented and is readily available.
Although the conversion is not capital-intensive, it is management-intensive, which means that farmers need to be prepared to be actively involved on the farm. However, it is important to balance any initial costs or additional time and effort required against the savings in costs – such as water, fertiliser, pesticides and machinery – and higher yields that this farming system brings, both of which lead to greater profitability in the long term.
Yet, despite the clear benefits of the practice, only 25% of South Africa’s arable land is farmed under conservation agriculture principles, according to the latest research from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for 2021.
However, the study also shows that the area under conservation agriculture production in South Africa increased by 366% from 2016 to 2019, suggesting that the uptake of conservation agriculture on the continent is accelerating.
The slower uptake could be because, unlike in Europe and the United States, where there are government programmes to incentivise conservation agriculture adoption, the transition in South Africa has been producer-driven.
Safeguard environmental and business resilience
Another obstacle may be that, in contrast to organic or free-range produce, there is currently no certification that makes conservation agriculture produce more desirable to consumers or allows producers to sell their produce at a premium.
However, conservation agriculture farmers who undertake carbon assessments can demonstrate that their produce has a lower carbon footprint, which has positive implications from both a business and environmental resilience perspective. This is especially true as policies like the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – essentially a carbon tariff – are implemented.
In addition, consumer demand for responsibly produced goods continues to grow. For example, a 2022 Nielsen report found that 73% of global consumers would definitely or probably change their consumption habits to reduce their environmental impact, while 64% of respondents in the 2024 Simon-Kucher Global Sustainability Study consider environmental sustainability one of their top 3 purchasing considerations.
However, it could be argued that the biggest incentives currently for switching to conservation agriculture are the reduced input costs and lower risks on a whole-farm basis through increased yields and cropping intensities, resulting in higher and more stable yields.
For example, in a 2023 study conducted with the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, wheat production at the Langgewens and Tygerhoek research farms was studied from 2002 to 2020 to estimate the environmental and economic impacts of switching from conventional wheat production to the zero-till and no-till systems of conservation agriculture.
The results show that conservation agriculture wheat production is more profitable and environmentally friendly when compared with conventional tillage, with the production of 1kg of wheat at Langgewens showing that zero-tillage and no-tillage are 113% and 55% more efficient, respectively, than conventional tillage.
In addition to the financial and efficiency benefits, the study also demonstrated how conservation agriculture increases a farm’s resilience to climate change by improving nutrient cycling, water efficiency and soil structure, as well as reducing soil erosion, weeds, pests and diseases.
Comparing 100% conventional tillage wheat production with conservation agriculture systems, the study indicated an R269.2 to R402.5 million reduction in environmental damage.
Barriers to the adoption of conservation agriculture in South Africa appear to be a lack of knowledge and a reluctance to change, and it requires a major mindset change and some upfront adjustments before the rewards can be reaped.
- Join the discussion on conservation agriculture at Nampo Cape in Bredasdorp in the Western Cape from 11 to 14 September 2024. Visit the Nedbank stand to meet agricultural specialists, and engage in lively debates.
- This article was written with input from Professor Johann Strauss, senior scientist at the Western Cape department of agriculture and extraordinary associate professor at Stellenbosch University; and Shelly Fuller, sustainable agriculture programme manager at WWF-SA. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Food For Mzansi.
READ NEXT: Farmers urged to embrace conservation agriculture
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
