Coservation Agriculture in Mozambique

Conservation agriculture

The conventional agriculture makes the use of agricultural inputs for food production. In these systems the soil is seen as substrate that guarantees physical support, water and nutrients for the plants. The role of the farmer is centered in satisfying all the needs of plants with external inputs (fertilizers to provide nutrients, pesticides to protect the plants and water). Some of these practices are needed in specific conditions and with appropriate planning and management. However, some of these practices can cause serious problems to the human being and environment (eg.: loss of soil fertility and reduction in yield, erosion, increase in the drought and flood risks, contamination of surface and underground water, contamination and soil degradation, etc.) (FAO, 2001).

The principle of Conservation Agriculture (CA)

Conservation agriculture (CA) emerges as an alternative solution to minimize the negative effects of conventional agriculture. The principle of conservation agriculture is to maintain and increase yields of crops that are resilient against droughts and other risks while at the same time guarantee the protection and stimulate the biological functions of the soil. Thus, the two important aspects in the implementation of CA are zero tillage and the maintenance of crop cover (green or dry vegetal material) in the soil surface. Generally, the crops are sown (or planted) in this cover system with special equipment. However, though the zero is an essential aspect of CA its isolated use does not qualify in the principles of CA tillage if the farmer is not practicing crop rotation and does not keep a permanent soil cover he is not practicing CA. The soil cover also contributes for the inhibition of germination of weed seeds minimizing therefore the competition of weeds with the main crops. Swanson and Jacobson (1956) observed that in irrigated crops with adequate fertilization there is a reduction on weeding as a consequence of increase in crop cover which also improves the soil strucuture and increase production and productivity of the crop.

     

 Conservation Agriculture in Mozambique

In Mozambique under the rainfed cropping systems where small scale farmers suffer due reduction in soil fertility and water dynamics in the soil, the recovery of organic matter of the soil is essential for the stabilization of crop production. However, in tropical conditions, the processes of degradation of organic matter are accelerated and do not guarantee the improvement of soil properties at long term. As such, in order to create a soil environment with stable organic matter there is a need to initially add organic matter to the soil (feed the soil microorganisms) and avoid chemical and mechanical impacts on the soil. For example, FAO (2001) demonstrated that with surface tillage or not tilling the soil and addition of crop residues it is possible to increase the activities of warms as compared with areas where there is deep tillage. Therefore, providing a permanent soil cover (or semi-permanent) through growing crops, crop residues or mulch, guarantee food for soil microorganisms, protect against erosion (by rainfall or wind), improves water infiltration, reduces the loss of soil moisture and regulates soil micro fauna. A study conducted by Botha (2013), observed higher gains in the productivity of maize when conservation agriculture was used. Apart from that there were more infiltration rates in conservation agriculture system.

In Mozambique the conservation agriculture is a key tool to boost agricultural productivity and contribute to poverty reduction (solution of problems such as delayed onset of rainfall, low use of inputs, etc). However, for a complete adoption by farmers there is a need to undertake basic agronomic studies in the different agro ecological zones especially on the rates of fertilizers, crop rotation and weed control. In addition there is a need for scientific studies that compare CA with conventional agriculture in different agro ecological zones and farming systems of crops as indicated by Grabowski et al. (2013), Mouzinho et al. (2013) and Grabowski and Mouzinho (2013).

According to Grabowski et al. (2013), emphasis is put on the role of research in the socio economic context in order to evaluate the chemical and non chemical methods of control of weeds. While the chemical control of weeds can be effective, the lack of herbicides in many parts of the country justify the need of studying other methods of weed control. Apart from that, according to the same authors there is a need to undertake studies to better understand the decisions from the farmers with respect to the profitability and risk of CA as related to conventional agriculture including the analysis on changes in occupation and the impact on gender. The aspects raised above deserve also the participation of rural extension that will be responsible for the dissemination of the generated information to the farmers.

References

Grabowski, P.; Walker, F.; Haggblade, S.; Maria, R.; Eash, N. (2013). Conservation Agriculture in Mozambique – Literature Review and Research Gaps. Working Paper No 4E. Directorate of Training, Documentation, and Technology Transfer. IIAM.27pp.

Macias – Vazquez, F.; Arbestain, M. C. (2002). Alternativas para el Secuestro de Carbono en Suelos y Biomasa: Aprendiendo de la Naturaleza, Aprendiendo de los Suelos. Departamento de Edafologia y  Química Agrícola. 32pp.

Malavolta, E. (2006). Manual de Nutrição de Plantas. Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultor. 631pp.

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Rafael, R.B.A.; Fernandez-Marcos, M.L.; Macias-Vazquez, F. (2012). Caracterização Química e Mineralógica de uma Rocha Fosfórica e seu Potencial Fertilizante em Diferentes tipos de solos. Tese para obtenção de grau de mestrado em Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais. Departamento de Edafologia e Química Agricola-USC.109pp.

Raij, V. (2011). Fertilidade do solo e Maneio de Nutrientes. Instituto Agronómico de Campinas. Piracicaba – Brasil. 420pp.