Training Programme to Overcome Barriers and

to Intensify the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture

in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Lange D1, Ristow W2, Ellis R1

1CAT, University of Fort Hare, 2Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform

5th World Congress of Conservation Agriculture incorporating 3rd Farming Systems Design Conference, 26th September 2011 Brisbane, Australia

3.2 Adoption and Innovation Plattforms

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Methods

3. Results and Discussion

4. Final remarks

Eastern Cape Province

Land Degradation

SOIL EROSION

Soil Erosion

South African National Action ProgrammeCombating Land Degradation toAlleviate Rural Poverty (2004)

(Part of the UNCCD)

“The cost of soil erosion per year was estimated at about R2 billion in 1992”.

“Nutrient loss from soil in South Africa has been estimated as having a worth of R1.5 billion per year” in 2001.

Estimated Costs of Erosion

Farming System

Communal farming systems => no land titles, 1 + 1 has.

Challenges

1. Introduction

In 2002, the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (ECRDAR), embarked on a farmer support programme aimed at stimulating the production of food grains in the high potential areas of the Province; part of the programme was the introduction of Conservation Agriculture (CA) as one of its conditions.

1. Introduction

CA was not implemented during the first 5 years of the programme due to the lack of knowledge of CA and about its principles.

The ECDRDAR made the decision to initiate a training programme to equip gov. extension officers with the necessary knowledge and skills in order to:

• Introduce on-farm CA demonstrations;

• Identify and prevent possible problems that might occur during the implementation of CA.

• Manage the CA production process; and

How we understand CA

Basic Elements of CA – simultaneously used

1. Continuous Minimum Soil Disturbance,

2. Permanent Organic Soil Cover,

3. Diversification of crop species grown in sequences and/or associations. (FAO, 2011)

• Green Manure Cover Crops,

• Integrated Pest and Weed Management, and

• Integration of Livestock.

For us, CA is eco–LOGIC.

2. Methods

In 2007, ECDRDAR entered into a partnership with the University of Fort Hare (UFH) and established the Conservation Agriculture Thrust (CAT), tasked with inter alia stimulating establishment of economically successful and environmentally sustainable crop/livestock production systems among communal smallholders.

CAT is a project that focuses on CA only, mainly by training of EOs.

2. Methods

The main areas on which the training programme focuses are:

• Utilization and maintenance of CA machinery;

• Weed and pest management;

• Soil fertility and plant nutrition;

• Basic agricultural arithmetic calculations;

• CA principles and practices;

2. Methods

The main areas on which the training programme focuses are: (cont)

• Introduction to value adding.

• GMCC and crop rotations; and

• Post harvest seed selection and storage;

• Utilization of and safety in the use of agro-chemicals;

2. MethodsThe course is divided into three phases:

The duration of the training is approximately one year, with follow-ups during the next 2-3 years.

3. A Cross Visit Tour.

2. Season-long, on-the-job training in selected, on-farm CA demonstrations; and

1. A 3-week (equalling 15 days or 120 hours) basic training, includes an exposure tour to successful CA projects in the region as well as a basic CA starter kit that includes equipment, documentation and inputs;

2. Methods

• A yearly monitoring system, which was adopted and adapted from the very successful Paraguayan CA project Proyecto de Manejo Sostenible de Recursos Naturales (PMRN).

• Furthermore, the monitoring results, i.e. the on-CA-field-performance, serve as an indicator of the quality of the training methods and help to continuously improve the CA training programme.

• Results of each monitoring report are analysed and feedback is provided.

3. Results and Discussion

The following key outcomes during the training process are relevant:

• 38 (of 40) extension officers completed field demonstrations successfully in the first year; and

• Experiential learning is key to CA adoption (constructivism);

• No-till practices were the more widely adopted entry points to CA during the first year, followed by soil cover and the utilization of GMCCs in the second year.

3. Results and DiscussionOther key issues that have a negative impact on extension officer’s performance, e.g.:

• Lack of leadership by the top-management of ECDRDAR.

• Ageing of the agricultural active population; and

• Loss of indigenous knowledge;

• Socio-economic conditions in South Africa, i.e. hand-out mentality deriving from state grants;

• Lack of knowledge about different extension approaches;

• Basic agronomic skills are not sufficient/missing;

3. Results and Discussion

Some issues are now being tackled:

However, it is clear that some of the constraints to CA adoption have to be appreciated as they are out of influence or control of projects.

• Identification of motivated farmers that are not biased by the hand-out mentality.

• Through closer cooperation with other ECDRDAR training initiatives; and

3. Results and DiscussionKey aspects for overcoming barriers and for intensifying the adoption and adaptation of CA:

• A cluster approach to training.

• Awareness and training for extension supervisors and managers; and

• CA training should be a broad strategic objective for the extension service in the Province;

• Implementation and long-term practical learning with innovator farmers TOGETHER with trainees;

• Formal accreditation of CA training;

Cluster Building

EO 2007/8EO 2008/9Supervisor 2008/09EO 2011/12

4. Final Remarks

• Training programmes need to be flexible and adaptable (our programme has changed again…)

• Accreditation of CA training via CA Academy seems a key as it provides quality assurance, too;

• CA trainees and farmers need to be provided with a vision;

4. Final Remarks

• There is compaction in the head, no doubt. People want change, but they do not want to change.

• Start small, 10% of farming area is enough for learning;

• No quick-fixes;

Comfort zones are just too nice and comfy…

THANK YOU!