GRAIN-SA SMALLHOLDER FARMER INNOVATION PROGRAMME

Transcription

1 Optimising the Conservation Agriculture system for non- commercial and semicommercial smallholders February 2017 GRAIN-SA SMALLHOLDER FARMER INNOVATION PROGRAMME

2 Description of Model and Process Adaptive research into CA processes appropriate for smallholder farmers: looking at the whole value chain; inputs, appropriate tools and equipment, different production options, storage options, milling, fodder etc Partnership: MDF, KZN DARD, Lima RDF, Siyazisiza Trust,KwaNalu, StratAct, Ubuhlebezwe and other Municipalities, LandCare. Saving and credit groups and organised farmers, organisations and cooperatives to work within the whole value chain; inputs- productionstorage- marketing. Horizontal scaling model starting with a nodal village in each area and expanding within and between villages: 2013: 3 Villages EC and 3 in Bergville (total trial participants: 50) 2014: 7 villages EC, 9 villages Bergville (Total trial participants: 100) 2015: 8 villages EC, 10 Bergville, 2 Nkandla (total trial participants: 210) 2016: 12 Villages EC; 4 Midlands, 17 Bergville Farmer volunteers, local facilitators, farmer centres (for each node surrounded by 3-5 villages close by for input and equipment provision as well as production advice)

3 Awareness raising and community learning Awareness raising events and farmers days spread across the regions and including many different stakeholders; research, government and agribusiness included Presentations, at conferences, papers, book chapters, CA manual Farmer experimentation linked to larger learning groups using the Farmer Field School approach. People work together in teams, belong to savings groups, do bulk buying and support each other with food and marketing

4 Farmer level experimentation Incremental change in yr 1,2,3 Year 1: Predefined with the research team: Choice of planting method; hand hoes, hand planters, animal drawn planters Year 2: Choices and options within the same overall design: Different varieties maize (white yellow, OPV, hybrid) Different varieties and types of legumes Early planting Manure and fertilizer combinations Targeted fertility regimes and pest control measures Year 3 +: Own design of experiments by participants : Intercropping vs crop rotation options Summer and winter cover crops Mulching Organic options Different herbicide and pesticide spray regimes Different planting times As well as options for year 2.

5 Costs of inputs Average Maize price 2017: R2 500/ton Break even yield: 3,9 t/ha Average yield: 1,4-4,2t/ha We need more than 4 tons/ha to make a profit What does this mean?? CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE PLOTS, KZN = Ha PLOTS Events Cost Costs (0.1ha)-2015 Costs 0,1ha INPUTS ha lit / kg ( R / kg,l) Seeds - maize (PAN 6479) 0, R 195,00 R 216,45 Seeds - drybeans (PAN 148 or Gadra) 0, ,6 R 159,75 R 177,32 Fertilizer MAP 0, ,2 R 230,00 R 255,30 Fertilizer LAN 0, R 75,00 R 83,25 Lime 0, R 100,00 R 111,00 Pesticides (Decis Forte) 0,1 0, R 26,25 R 29,14 Herbicides: Roundup 0, R 65,40 R 72,59 Herbicides: Dual Gold 0,1 1, R 30,00 R 33,30 Summit/surfactant 0,1 0, R 5,92 R 6,57 Input costs per 0.1 ha R 887,32 R 984,93 Input costs per 1 ha R 8 873,20 R 9 849,25

6 Cost summaries; How to deal with rising costs O,1ha cost summaries SEED PRICES 25kg Pesticides, herbicides R 141,60 OPV R 400,00 Fertilizers R 449,55 Hybrid (generic) R 1 150,00 Seed R 393,77 GM R 2 700,00 Biggest cost is fertilizer. Even when micro-dosing Need ways to reduce fertilizer needs The next cost is seed (Here Hybrid, plus legume) Carefully weigh up different seed types against other costs and yields. Labour costs for weeding; ~R250/0,1ha (R50pppd x 5days), ploughing ~R500/0,1ha Compare these prices with ploughing and labour for weeding Not ploughing saves a lot of money, Seed costs need to be weighed against yield increase Reduce fertilizer and chemical use to a minimum Ways to improve soil health

7 Conservation Agriculture: All three principles Minimal soil disturbance Soil cover Diversity Right: A 3year old CA plot with developing cover Far right: A ploughed plot with no soil cover Insert: Mulching..

8 Crop diversification To ensure soil organic matter build up Improve soil fertility Improved soil structure and soil health Reduce prevalence and types of weeds Management of pests and disease incidence and severity Summer and winter mixes used in relay and separately

9 And close spacing Temperature and moisture control Reduces runoff Increased OM Mrs Simephi Nkosi- Emmaus Jan 2015 Intercrop and GM mono crop Mr Mtoleni Dlamini- Stulwane Jan 2014 Traditional planting and intercrop

10 Planting season Farmers Comments- Bergville Bangeni Dlamini (49yr old woman): I have learned that it is possible to plant/ grow crops without disturbing your soils and get more yields from it. Thulani Dlamini (50year old man): It is the best way of planting. I have learnt that it prevents soil erosion and rehabilitates the soil. Cupile Buthelezi (43 year old woman): I use less fertilizer and put detail to everything that I do. The intercropping has retained much more moisture compared to the single crops. Busisiwe Mvelase (32 year old woman): This method is affordable and provides higher yields. It is also less work. In the three years that I have been part of CA I have not bought any maize. I now grow my own.