Traditionally dedicated to the wellbeing of humans and animals, the idea of One Health has found a home farming, providing a potential route towards resilient, sustainable living. The image above shows the nexus of One Health.
One Health is a comprehensive approach to community farming in an age where pressing issues such as climate change, the depletion of natural resources and rising rates of disease need creative answers. Farmers are adopting an integrated approach that acknowledges the delicate balance between agricultural practices and the general health of ecosystems, going beyond the traditional division of crops and animals. This method recognises that cattle, crops and the environment are all interdependent and that each one has an impact on the others.
EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH KNOWLEDGE
The empowerment of local communities is at the core of this transformation. Through educational programmes on sustainable agriculture, farmers are being given the information and abilities necessary to grow in harmony with the environment. Initiatives such as the adoption of integrated pest management and livestock health programmes and regenerative farming methods that improve soil health are fostering a greater knowledge of the connections between agriculture, human health and the environment.
Initiatives for community-based data gathering and research are essential to this movement. Farmers can identify hazards early on because they actively monitor the state of the environment. Communities can protect their livestock and crops while also enhancing the overall well-being of their ecosystems by working together to recognise and manage hazards.
BENEFITS BEYOND THE HARVEST
Denne historien er fra July 05, 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra July 05, 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.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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.
