Climate change is a global issue that is affecting the way people live and interact with the environment. Among its numerous effects, climate change has a significant impact on agricultural production systems, leading to patterns that vary, with positive as well as negative effects. In order to ensure food security, economic stability, and environmental sustainability, agricultural practices need to adapt as the Earth’s climate continues to change, resulting in changes to temperature and precipitation patterns.
Farmers are finding it challenging to maintain consistent and predictable crop yields as a result of the escalating effects of climate change on traditional agricultural landscapes.
Global agricultural systems are being affected by factors such as rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns and a rise in the frequency of extreme weather events including heatwaves, floods and droughts. In order to maintain production and profitability, these shifts are requiring farmers to reconsider existing methods, adopt new technologies and investigate other strategies.
Modifications in agricultural production patterns may also present chances for creativity and adaptability. Utilising drought-tolerant crop varieties, precision irrigation and improved soil management techniques are just a few examples of the climate-smart agricultural practices that farmers can use to adapt.
By improving resource efficiency, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and conserving water, these modifications can support agricultural sustainability system.
SHIFTING PATTERNS IN THE MAIZE BELT
Denne historien er fra 1 March 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra 1 March 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
