70 / 73
THE
GRAIN AND OILSEED INDUSTRY
OF SOUTH AFRICA – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
ႉႂ
central role, ensuring that the accompanying experience and awareness, which
are the key elements of the programme, are duly emphasised. When this has
been achieved, technical and scientific support can make the management of the
process successful.
The purpose of the programme is to empower producers in order for them to
become innovative and implement and apply sustainable agricultural practices.
The process being followed is firstly to identify well-organised and dedicated
producer structures, like study groups, stokvels among small farmers, and No
Till Clubs that are prepared to support the programme, also known as producer-
innovation platforms. In collaboration with those groups of producers projects are
designed where priorities, activities and gaps are identified. In order to address the
gaps, other role-players, like researchers, extension officers, input providers and
manufacturers are involved in designing and implementing complete work kits.
The project therefore mainly consists of producers, but also includes technical and
other experts and support.
In 2013 Grain SA started with purposeful conservation agriculture projects among
commercial producers, the first of which was with the Ottosdal No Till Club in
North West. The objective in 2014 was to obtain additional funds from the Maize
Trust and channel the money to more producer innovation platforms of this nature,
especially in areas where conservation agriculture is not yet fully accepted, or has
not yet become established. The Eastern Free State is one such an area where
specific study groups have already been identified, which Grain SAwill use to create
and pilot projects about conservation agriculture.
The intention is to conduct more similar projects among emerging farmers. For that
purpose the approach in the existing two study areas among emerging farmers
– one in the Bergville district in KwaZulu-Natal and the other in the Matatiele district
in the Eastern Cape – will be used to assist producers with the cultivation of maize
and legumes.
Co-operation with Grain SA’s Farmer Development Programme has already been
achieved to implement conservation agriculture in their study groups. The empha-
sis of the programme will therefore move to conservation agriculture to a greater
extent, because the practice has so many benefits for emerging farmers as well.
The system
Conservation agriculture is seen as the ideal system for sustainable and environ-
ment-friendly intensification in agriculture, through which producers can achieve
higher productivity levels and profitability, and at the same time improve soil
The Dust Bowl of the 1930’s.