Farming In Harmony With Mother Nature

Climate change and increased pressure on natural resources have necessitated the introduction of alternative farming practices.

- Conce Moraba & Wessel Lemmer

Conservation agriculture (CA) is aimed at producing field crops while minimising soil disturbance, maintaining soil fertility and retaining soil moisture.

While CA was introduced as far back as the 1970s in some parts of the world, the current global trend of trying to ensure sustainable agricultural production is increasingly placing it in the spotlight.

In this regard, minimum soil disturbance, keeping the soil covered (soil vegetative cover), mixing and rotating crops, and adding a livestock component to the system, have been proven to work efficiently.

GRADUAL GROWTH IN PROFITS

Although large gains, such as a month on-month increase in cash flow, may not be immediately evident when introducing CA, a producer will see the benefits in the reduced maintenance required for machinery. This is due to shorter distances travelled, lower variable and fixed costs, and reduced power requirements. Fuel consumption costs will also be reduced due to fewer trips undertaken, while expenditure on machinery will be lower as the same equipment can be used for longer periods without having to be replaced.