Conservation agriculture in Africa: climate smart agricultural development, 2022
Introduction of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and associated climate-resilient agriculture practi... more Introduction of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and associated climate-resilient agriculture practices within an innovation system approach, and using farmer-level experimentation and learning groups as the primary learning and social empowerment processes, has created a sustainable and expanding farming alternative for smallholders that is improving their resilience to climate change substantially. Through a knowledge co-creation process, smallholder farmers in the programme have adapted and incorporated a wide range of practices into their farming system, including minimum soil disturbance, close spacing, improved varieties, judicious use of fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides, crop diversification, intercropping and crop rotation as well as fodder production and livestock integration. They have organized themselves into learning groups, local savings and loan associations, water committees, farmer centres and cooperatives and in so doing have created innovation platforms for loca...
South Africa remains a highly unequal and divided society and the disaster measures of lockdown, ... more South Africa remains a highly unequal and divided society and the disaster measures of lockdown, designed to contain the spread of COVID-19, are being implemented within a context where people have vastly different abilities to access crucial food resources and health facilities. Small-scale farmers play an important role in providing food to their local communities and families. The fresh produce they provide is crucial to their own and their communities’ nutritional health, as well as to the sustainability of their livelihoods. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the vulnerability of South Africa’s food system through the widespread hunger and food shortages, which have been reported as some of the dire consequences of the lockdown. This article discusses the experiences of small-scale farmers under the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, in terms of their resilience and food security. Data for the research were drawn from the findings of a small qualitative structured survey that was ...
This study reflects an action research approach applied to improve the social and environmental c... more This study reflects an action research approach applied to improve the social and environmental circumstances of small-scale farmers and to promote sustainable land management. Multi-stakeholder engagement and social learning were applied so as to engage all sectors of the community and to incorporate their diverse and often conflicting views, interests and objectives. The approach facilitated long-term processes that bring different groups into constructive engagement, dialogue and decision-making. At three sites participants developed shared visions, identified strategies, detailed action plans and M&E frameworks. A range or ‘basket of ecotechnologies’ were identified and introduced to project participants during the planning process. Farmer capacity for innovation was enhanced via on-farm experimental trials, and farmer-to-farmer extension assisted the dissemination of technical improvements. Farmers were generally enthusiastic about the new ecotechnologies that were introduced. ...
Conservation agriculture in Africa: climate smart agricultural development, 2022
Introduction of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and associated climate-resilient agriculture practi... more Introduction of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and associated climate-resilient agriculture practices within an innovation system approach, and using farmer-level experimentation and learning groups as the primary learning and social empowerment processes, has created a sustainable and expanding farming alternative for smallholders that is improving their resilience to climate change substantially. Through a knowledge co-creation process, smallholder farmers in the programme have adapted and incorporated a wide range of practices into their farming system, including minimum soil disturbance, close spacing, improved varieties, judicious use of fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides, crop diversification, intercropping and crop rotation as well as fodder production and livestock integration. They have organized themselves into learning groups, local savings and loan associations, water committees, farmer centres and cooperatives and in so doing have created innovation platforms for loca...
South Africa remains a highly unequal and divided society and the disaster measures of lockdown, ... more South Africa remains a highly unequal and divided society and the disaster measures of lockdown, designed to contain the spread of COVID-19, are being implemented within a context where people have vastly different abilities to access crucial food resources and health facilities. Small-scale farmers play an important role in providing food to their local communities and families. The fresh produce they provide is crucial to their own and their communities’ nutritional health, as well as to the sustainability of their livelihoods. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the vulnerability of South Africa’s food system through the widespread hunger and food shortages, which have been reported as some of the dire consequences of the lockdown. This article discusses the experiences of small-scale farmers under the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, in terms of their resilience and food security. Data for the research were drawn from the findings of a small qualitative structured survey that was ...
This study reflects an action research approach applied to improve the social and environmental c... more This study reflects an action research approach applied to improve the social and environmental circumstances of small-scale farmers and to promote sustainable land management. Multi-stakeholder engagement and social learning were applied so as to engage all sectors of the community and to incorporate their diverse and often conflicting views, interests and objectives. The approach facilitated long-term processes that bring different groups into constructive engagement, dialogue and decision-making. At three sites participants developed shared visions, identified strategies, detailed action plans and M&E frameworks. A range or ‘basket of ecotechnologies’ were identified and introduced to project participants during the planning process. Farmer capacity for innovation was enhanced via on-farm experimental trials, and farmer-to-farmer extension assisted the dissemination of technical improvements. Farmers were generally enthusiastic about the new ecotechnologies that were introduced. ...
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Papers by Erna Kruger