South Africa
July 14, 2022

On the African continent the challenge is not only to increase food production to meet the growing demand for food, but also to ensure the sensible use of resources with the view to sustainable production.

“It is critical that we should be aware that the decisions we make regarding food production will impact our natural resources. Equally important is the choices all of us make regarding what we eat, drink, buy, and wear,” says Dr Lukeshi Chetty, General Manager, South African National Seed Organisation (SANSOR).

Focusing on the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought that was commemorated on 17 June, she reiterated that arable land was vital in Africa and needed to be protected and restored. “Without arable land, food production would be impossible. Soils is a key asset to farmers and together with vegetation, help to store carbon that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.”

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1994. This year, the theme was: Rising up from drought together.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that by 2030 Africa will have lost two-thirds of its arable land if it is not stopped.

The term desertification has been defined by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) as land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas through natural processes as well as human activities.

“Desertification is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations and is a process that destroys fertile land and can be caused by drought, overpopulation, over-farming, deforestation and climate change,” Dr Chetty pointed out. “The effects of desertification can be seen in many parts of the world, but especially in Africa where factors such as poverty, political instability and wars, overgrazing, unsuitable cultivation practices with water and soil erosion, and deforestation have impacted negatively on the productivity of the land,” she added.

The ability to feed and clothe the African population is hampered by three basic concerns. These are population growth, agricultural performance, and environmental degradation (Cleaver and Schreiber, 1994).
It is estimated that about 46% of the surface area of Africa is threatened by desertification. (Land Resource Stresses and Desertification in Africa, P.F. REICH et al Land Resource Stresses and Desertification in Africa | NRCS Soils (usda.gov))

The effects of desertification can be seen on the fringes of the two great deserts in the continent the Sahara and the Kalahari where the average annual precipitation is between 100 mm and 600 mm, but areas around the Karoo are also at risk.

Drought is one of the major natural causes of desertification in dryland areas and are also frequent in these areas. Records show that in the Sub-Saharan Africa severe droughts were observed in 1968-73, 1982-85, 1990-92, 1999-2001, and 2005-2006 as well as more recently in the Western and Eastern Cape areas of South Africa.

Drought is normally considered as a consequence of natural reduction in the amount of precipitation received over a period time and is perceived as a normal, recurrent feature of climate occurring virtually in all climatic regimes all over the world. “The difference is that well-managed lands can recover from drought when the rains return. Continued misuse of land, the degradation of soil and erosion, however, causes desertification,” she explained.

Droughts increase evaporation rates, reducing the biological productivity of the lands. A reduced plant cover exposes the soil to wind. The wind transports dust from the bare soils to neighbouring areas extending the desert conditions. In addition, floods following dryer spells, wipe out the vegetation covering the dryland leading to erosion, landslides and loss of top fertile soils. Deforestation further exacerbates the situation.

Strategies to reduce desertification

“One of the major drivers of land degradation and desertification is human activity. Combined with the intensification of droughts, unsustainable agricultural practices, the environment, biodiversity, and food systems are under threat. The agricultural sector, and in particular, the seed industry, has untapped potential that can address many of the environmental challenges faced by society and delay the onset of desertification. In some cases, we can also play a major role in reversing degradation by engaging in sustainable agriculture,” Dr Chetty said.

“More efficient use of resources and modern technologies, improved seed and cropping systems, and better forest management, may greatly support farmers to withstand droughts, floods and other challenges.”

Sustainable agricultural practices can maintain and improve soil fertility and protect the environment. The contributions of the seed industry towards sustainable agricultural will have a major impact on food production.

“As the seed industry we recognise that food systems should be equitable, inclusive, and environmentally friendly, but we also acknowledge that we are faced with an enormous challenge to produce sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. The seed sector is a critical partner in the food value chain. Seed forms the foundation of food production and is a vital starting point for crop production. Without quality seed there will be no harvest. Quality seed is, however, not only needed for food production, but also for land restoration, rehabilitation, reclamation and conservation,” Dr Chetty pointed out.

“Improved varieties and quality seed can improve water and land use efficiency and boost farmers’ yields. The seed industry aim to provide all farmers with diverse, well-adapted high-quality seed and to provide information and technical support to increase yields under local conditions,” she added.

She pointed out that by developing new varieties and by using new novel breeding techniques, the seed sector is playing an important role in sustainable agricultural practices.

Desertification can be reduced and addressed by adopting the following strategies:

• Improved seeds – improved seeds with higher yields reduces the area needed for cultivation and thus lessens the rate of land conversion and deforestation. By enabling agriculture to grow more with less, the seed in industry is in fact one of the key role players in combatting desertification.
• Cultivation practices – although traditional ploughing or conventional tillage practices plays an important role in weed management, ploughing causes soil and moisture losses. Conservation, reduced or no-till practices are more conducive to the conservation of soil and moisture.
• Crop rotation – monoculture is seen as one of the primary causes of the increased prevalence of difficult to control weeds as well as soil degradation and decreased productivity. Rotating crops can improve pest and weed control, and leads to healthier soil.
• Planting cover crops – cover crops can contribute towards soil health by replenishing nutrients, preventing soil erosion and also preventing the growth of weeds. Healthier soils means increased fertility, sustainability and productivity. Improved cover crop seed varieties with a high quality helps farmers achieve their soil improvement and conservation goals.
• Seed treatments – the treatment of seed provides an additional tool to protect seed from planting to emergence. Seed treatments can improve crop establishment and increase potential yield.
• Genetically modified – genetically modified seeds contained various traits can play a large role in sustainable farming.
• Digital technologies – computer and data science allows farmers to manage variability, rather than just averages. This allows for more precise planning decisions regarding hybrid or variety choices, planting time, planting densities, depth and spacing. Variable rate applications provide the opportunity to manage a farm and crop more precisely.
• Integrated pest management practices – although pesticides help with pest management and improve crop production, over-usage of specific pesticides may results in the build-up of insect resistance to certain active ingredients, and the loss of beneficial insects. Pesticides are one of the solutions in the farmer’s tool box to protect their crops. An integrated pest management strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests and their damage through a combination of techniques such as chemical, cultural and biological control as well as targeted habitat management like increased plant diversity, should be implemented.
• Reducing overgrazing – the carrying capacity of grazing land is a concept that should be supported. Overgrazing by livestock can lead to soil degradation and erosion and speed up desertification. Animals should be moved to different grazing areas so that plants and the soil have time to recuperate. Livestock should also be allowed to graze on different pastures on a farm so that the animals can consume a variety of plants. The manure left behind will also help fertilize the soil.
• Planting trees – the roots of trees hold the soil together and help to reduce soil erosion from wind and rain. Plant indigenous plants that are well-suited to the local climate.
• Agroforestry – shrubs and trees on a farm will provide shelter and shade to other plants, water resources, and animals. Trees and shrubs also prevent soil erosion.
• Water management – by proper orchard or field planning, water run-off can be reduced. Drip irrigation is another way to use water more efficiently. Water stored in dames can be used to irrigate crops during the dry seasons.
• In dry areas, stone circles around vegetable gardens can be used to increase water retention and prevent water run-off.

“Very often simple and innovative practices can be used to adapt to adverse climatic conditions and mitigate the effects of droughts. These sustainable practices combined with modern technologies can protect our continent against land degradation, drought, and desertification. We are fortunate that we have the tools and technologies to support food production and help to slow down or reverse land degradation and desertification and promote sustainable food production — if we allow science-based policies, regulations and policies to guide us,” she concluded.

More about SANSOR

SANSOR has served the needs of the South African Seed Industry for 30 years. Today, we support 118-member seed companies in various ways: from maintaining local and international seed certification standards, to ensuring that seed is produced, multiplied and marketed according to legislated standards and systems.
https://www.sansor.org

Website: http://www.sansor.org

Published: July 15, 2022