Agricultural Research Council researchers Charity Mapumulo and Noluthando Ngcobo share their insights on how kwaNdaba farmers are responding to biobased technologies on the DIVAGRI research project.
How has Divagri helped kwaNdaba small-scale farmers?
The DIVAGRI Master Trainer Workshop that was facilitated by Nina Mapili held in Stellenbosch in April had a big impact. It gave the kwaNdaba farmers an opportunity to reflect on activities and themselves. They re-examined their values, vision, mission and gradually build up their own toolkit and strategies to implement their plans. It gave them an opportunity to refocus so they can move forward. Seeing the technologies, first at the Agricultural Research Council in Pretoria and then at Stellenbosch University Experimental Farm also enhanced their appreciation and comprehension of how the bio-based technologies worked.
What DIVAGRI bio-based technologies are favoured in kwaNdaba?
The kwaNdaba farmers are very interested in the Self-regulating Low Energy Clay-based Irrigation (SLECI). They currently need to pump their water from a river next to their lands. With diesel and petrol prices going up, they are finding irrigation expensive on their farms. The SLECI system that relies on rain tanks and the roots of crops to draw the water from the clay nodes will save them time and money. They will no longer have to rely on pumps with expensive fuel costs. They will be able to afford to lay the SLECI drip irrigation system.
The biochar kiln is another biobased technology that is favoured in kwaNdaba. It is remote part of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa and is surrounded by forest. There is a lot of biomass that can be burned. While the soils are not depleted, they would benefit from biochar. It will enable them to continuously upgrade their soils and sustain productivity.
The farmers are also captivated by the mushroom biorefinery. While it is true that most people favour protein intake from meat-based sources, growing plant-based proteins would be an interesting novelty. Currently, mushrooms are perceived as an expensive elite crop. However, if they are produced locally, it is believed a market for them will emerge in kwaNdaba. There are plenty of substrates like grass and plant residues available in kwaNdaba that can be used throughout the year to grow mushrooms.
Which DIVAGRI bio-based technologies are not popular in kwaNdaba?
The farmers are in favour of alternative energy sources because like everywhere in the country electricity supply in kwaNdaba is unstable. However, gas is not something that is widely understood or used. They are nervous of the technology. They would like the biogas digester to be further adapted so that it can produce larger quantities of gas and with more safety measures in place.
The production of halophytes in the desalination greenhouse is not a technology that is necessary or even practical in kwaNdaba where there is a large supply of fresh water.
Have government officials in kwaNdaba welcomed the concept of the circular economy that is being promoted in DIVAGRI?
The KwaZulu Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) understands the concept clearly as it is part of the sustainable agriculture principles such as regeneration agriculture, climate smart agric and conservation agriculture for effective land-use. They are currently teaching the farmers to use less inputs, produce more outputs and make more profits. These officials have been especially supportive and encouraging since they attended an awareness workshop at our pilot site in Pretoria at the Agricultural Research Council in Pretoria where they saw the biotechnologies for themselves.
Do the farmers face any challenges with regards to implementing the bio-based technologies?
Yes, they do. The materials (e.g. booklets, pamphlets) are in English and this is a challenge for our farmers who mostly only speak isiZulu. However, we are working towards ensuring that we have almost all materials for DIVAGRI translated for them. Farmers are not anticipating much challenges in the implementation of the suitable technologies because ARC researchers will be present to guide the process.
Are the kwaNdaba farmers ready to embrace bio-based technologies?
We have traditional farmers in kwaNdaba who do not use a lot of inorganic chemicals (pesticides, fertilisers and herbicides). They understand the importance of keeping their natural resources of water and soil free of inorganic substances. Also, the fact that farming is their livelihood working full-time (work all day) on the land. DIVAGRI technologies being bio-based fits perfectly well in their farming system. Hence, their eagerness looking forward to embracing the technologies and realising the benefits that each technology will bring for them. Their enthusiasm shows through their ongoing dedication and hard work they have been putting in ensuring that even surrounding farmers who are not, yet part of the Community of Practice have some level of understanding on the technologies.
Are the kwaNdaba farmers ready to change their farming practices?
The farmers are ready for the change, especially since the attendance of DIVAGRI Master Trainer workshop in Stellenbosch. At this “Take Charge of Your Life” workshop with Nina Mapili, it the time to reflect on their personal circumstances and develop strategies and action plans to achieve their goals. Change is very much on their mind both personally and in their farming work.