In the heart of South Africa’s semi-arid regions, a quiet revolution is taking root, one that promises to reshape the agricultural landscape and bolster food security in the face of climate change. At the forefront of this transformation is Gugulethu Zuma-Netshiukhwi, a researcher from the Agricultural Research Council’s Natural Resources and Engineering division based at Glen Agricultural College in Bloemfontein. Her work, recently published in the journal ‘Atmosphere’ (translated to English), is shedding light on how climate-smart agriculture (CSA) can be upscaled to enhance sustainable agrifood systems, with significant implications for the energy sector and commercial agriculture.
Zuma-Netshiukhwi’s study, conducted in the Free State and Limpopo provinces, involved 196 smallholder farmers and 125 agricultural advisors who participated in CSA training. The focus was on implementing and upscaling CSA practices such as agroecological cropping systems and micro-catchments, which are designed to build climate-resilient agricultural systems. “The decline in agrifood systems due to weather extremes and hazards is a pressing issue,” Zuma-Netshiukh explains. “Our study aimed to address this by enhancing the adoption of CSA technologies.”
The research identified several barriers to CSA adoption, including lack of institutional support, policy integration deficiencies, and insufficient numbers of agricultural advisors. To overcome these challenges, the study employed a participatory living laboratory approach, using demonstration trials, on-farm training, and training of intermediaries. This method proved crucial in effectively transferring technology and fostering reciprocal systems that can help smallholder farmers transition to commercial levels.
One of the key findings was the need to modify the CSA Acceptance Model to include factors such as usability, profitability, sustainability, and the perceived cost of acceptance. “Technology transfer requires both qualitative and quantitative approaches for adoption efficacy,” Zuma-Netshiukh notes. This insight could significantly impact the energy sector, as it highlights the need for comprehensive strategies that consider multiple facets of technology adoption.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. By enhancing the adoption of CSA practices, the study paves the way for more sustainable agrifood systems that can withstand the impacts of climate change. This, in turn, can contribute to food security and economic stability in semi-arid regions. For the energy sector, the findings underscore the importance of integrating climate-smart practices into agricultural systems, which can lead to more efficient use of resources and reduced environmental impact.
As the world grapples with the challenges posed by climate change, studies like Zuma-Netshiukh’s offer valuable insights into how we can adapt and build resilience. Her work not only highlights the potential of CSA practices but also provides a roadmap for upscaling these technologies to benefit both smallholder farmers and the broader agricultural industry. In doing so, she is helping to shape a more sustainable and secure future for all.
The research published in ‘Atmosphere’ serves as a call to action for policymakers, agricultural advisors, and industry stakeholders to collaborate and implement climate-smart practices on a larger scale. By doing so, they can contribute to the development of resilient agrifood systems that can withstand the challenges of a changing climate and support the transition to commercial agriculture.