Helping small-scale farmers produce quality maize during a drought

Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso, senior lecturer at Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology at NorthWest University, and Abiodun Olusola Omotayo, senior lecturer and researcher at North-West University, discuss how a mix of old and new techniques produced a superior maize harvest in the dry North West.

- Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso, Abiodun Olusola Omotayo,

New research into rural small-scale farms in South Africa’s North West province has found that climate-smart farming techniques lead to better maize yields, a more regular supply of food for the farmers, and a wider variety of crops.

Small-scale farmers often produce primarily for their own consumption, but many also sell produce in local markets. Because small-scale farmers rely on their crops both to survive and as their only form of income, they are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Some of the climate-smart techniques being successfully used are:

• Planting drought-tolerant maize seeds (a new variety of maize that grows well even when there is a drought);

• Mulching (covering the soil with a layer of leaves or bark to keep the moisture in);

• Cover cropping (planting grasses or legumes between the main crop to nourish and protect the soil);

• Mixed cropping (growing two or more crops together to repel pests); and

• Zero tillage (placing mulch over the soil and planting seeds in that layer instead of digging beds).

AN UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT

North West has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and mild winters. More frequent and intense droughts and unpredictable rain have created an unstable environment. Traditional farming practices have become less reliable, underscoring the urgent need for adopting climate-smart agriculture.

Across South Africa, rural small-scale farming families are more vulnerable to climate change. They do not own expensive irrigation systems. These days, rain is often delayed. This means the small-scale farmers can no longer plant as early as they used to. This affects growing seasons and reduces their crop output, creating food insecurity in their households.