Drought-proofing tips to keep your farm thriving

Vivian Beukes, owner of Green Sprouts Solutions, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about practical strategies and innovative technologies that farmers can adopt to drought-proof their farms and build resilience.

- Vivian Beukes

With South Africa facing increasingly unpredictable weather and prolonged dry spells, drought-proofing farms has become essential for survival. Vivian Beukes, owner and founder of Green Sprouts Solutions, says the first step for farmers is to thoroughly understand their farm's water resources and soil conditions. This foundation is key to building a resilient and productive farm in challenging times.

“It is important to do a survey of the water available on the farm from all the sources. That is where you should start. If there’s enough water, you should look at the type of soil on the farm, because that will determine how much water you're going to use and what type of crops you'll be able to produce,” he says.

According to Beukes, understanding the adaptability of the farm is key. He cautions against forcing a production model that the land cannot support.

“It’s difficult to do something that is almost impossible to achieve, so you have to adapt to the conditions the farm is offering you,” he says.

THE FOUNDATION OF DROUGHT RESILIENCE

According to Beukes, healthy soil is the best insurance policy against drought.

“It’s of utmost importance that the soil structure is in good condition. Healthy soil absorbs and retains water better, helping crops survive dry periods,” he says.

He says a healthy soil should retain around 50% to 55% water moisture content. “That's the ideal. When soil can hold that much water, you've created a buffer against drought,” he says.

To achieve this, Beukes recommends adding compost and improving soil aeration.

“Compost helps improve the soil’s ability to hold moisture. It also feeds the plants and supports microbial life,” he says. He further mentions that better soil reduces surface evaporation too.

“When the soil structure allows for deeper water penetration, there’s less evaporation, and the roots can access moisture for longer periods,” he says.