The greatest threat to South Africa’s farmlands doesn’t come from the global economy or government policies. It’s to be found under a farmer’s feet.
According to Dr Hendrik Smith, conservation agriculture facilitator, 95% of food production is estimated to rely directly or indirectly on soil. Yet this resource has long been taken for granted, and a large percentage of agricultural soils are moderately to highly degraded through years of neglect or misuse.
The good news is that, in many instances, the situation can be reversed by changing production practices and rebuilding the soil. Healthier soils will not only secure food production, even in less-than-ideal situations, but also restore biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions. The potential for carbon sequestration is increased by nurturing soil health and photosynthetic capacity through good soil management.
“If soil health is neglected, less carbon will be stored in the soil. This
