Conservation agriculture (CA) is revolutionizing farming in Southern Africa, offering a sustainable and climate-resilient solution to the challenges posed by soil degradation and erratic weather patterns. By focusing on practices like minimal soil disturbance, crop rotation, and moisture retention, CA is enabling farmers to significantly improve yields while preserving soil health.
In Zimbabwe’s Shamva District, farmers like Wilfred Mudavanhu are reaping the benefits of CA. Despite the region being gripped by an El Niño-induced drought, Mudavanhu’s maize crop thrives, demonstrating the resilience of CA methods. His harvest has increased from 1.5 tonnes to 2.5 tonnes of maize per season, highlighting the potential of CA to transform smallholder farming.
CA emphasizes techniques such as mulching, timely weed control, and focusing on smaller plots for better results. These practices address the dual challenges of climate change and soil degradation, which threaten agricultural productivity across the region. Smallholder maize yields under traditional methods often struggle to reach 1 tonne per hectare. In contrast, CA has led to yield increases of up to 90% in Zimbabwe, with even more dramatic gains of 400% reported in Malawi, where nitrogen-fixing trees like Faidherbia albida are integrated into farming systems.
Beyond yield improvements, CA plays a crucial role in conserving moisture and enhancing soil health. These benefits are critical for regions relying on rainfed agriculture, as they ensure long-term productivity and resilience against extreme weather. With an estimated 3 million farmers in Southern Africa now practicing CA, its adoption is growing steadily, driven by its ability to provide sustainable food security.
Mechanization is proving to be a game changer in making CA more accessible and less labor-intensive. Tools like the basin digger, designed specifically for smallholder CA systems, reduce labor requirements significantly. Traditionally, preparing planting basins was a time-consuming and arduous task. Now, mechanization has transformed this process. A basin digger can complete in one hour what previously took an entire day, reducing labor by up to 90%.
Farmers are also embracing mechanization as a service to others. By investing in tools like two-wheeled tractors, shellers, and rippers, farmers such as Mudavanhu and Advance Kandimiri have not only improved their own yields but also created additional income streams by renting equipment to their peers. Research suggests that CA can increase farmers’ income by approximately USD 368 per hectare due to higher yields and reduced input costs.
Farmers across Southern Africa have reported remarkable results after adopting CA. In Zambia, farmers using animal traction rippers for planting have significantly reduced labor requirements and improved crop yields. Crop rotation, a cornerstone of CA, is helping farmers enhance soil fertility and diversify their sources of income. On her nine-hectare farm, one Zambian farmer rotates maize with legumes like cowpeas and groundnuts, using crop residues as livestock feed. This integrated approach has not only boosted her yields but also generated substantial income from surplus crops.
Despite its advantages, the widespread adoption of CA still faces hurdles. Many smallholder farmers lack access to the necessary tools, inputs, and technical knowledge to implement CA effectively. Limited resources and short-term yield uncertainties can discourage farmers from transitioning to these practices. Addressing these barriers requires targeted education, training, and support from governments and organizations.
Collaborative efforts are playing a pivotal role in promoting CA across the region. Partnerships between organizations and governments have facilitated the integration of CA into national agricultural policies. For instance, in Zambia, mechanized CA methods such as strip cropping and permanently raised beds have become part of government-led programs. These initiatives are paving the way for more farmers to adopt CA, particularly in rainfed regions where its impact can be transformative.
The global adoption of CA continues to grow, with over 250 million hectares currently under CA practices and an annual increase of 10 million hectares. While the progress in Southern Africa is promising, ongoing efforts are needed to equip smallholder farmers with the knowledge, tools, and resources to fully realize the potential of CA. By embracing this sustainable approach, farmers can not only improve their livelihoods but also contribute to the resilience of agriculture in the face of climate change.
