APPENDIX:KWAZULU-NATALMIDLANDSPROGRESSREPORT

CAFarmerInnovationProgramme(CA-FIP)forsmallholdersinKZNMidlands.

Period:October2019-February2020FarmerCentredInnovationinConservationAgriculturein

MidlandsofKwaZulu-Natal

Compiledby:ErnaKruger,TemakholoMathebulaandHendrikSmith

March2020

Projectimplementedby:

MahlathiniDevelopmentFoundation

Promotingcollaborative,pro-pooragriculturalinnovation.

Contact:ErnaKruger(FounderandCoordinator)

Address:2ForrestersLane,Pietermaritzburg,3201,KZN

Email:info@mahlathini.org

Cell:0828732289

Timeofoperation:2003-2019Legalstatus:NPC

BEEstatus:4.–Certificateavailable.

Incollaborationwith:

Fundedby:

ContentsContents .................................................................................................................................. 3

Executive summary ................................................................................................................. 4

Background and Organisational Information ........................................................................... 5

Key activities: October 2019 to February 2020 ........................................................................ 7

Budget ..................................................................................................................................... 8

Results achieved to date ......................................................................................................... 8

Overall process ...................................................................................................................... 11

Year 1: ............................................................................................................................ 11

Year 2: ............................................................................................................................ 12

Year 3: ............................................................................................................................ 12

Soil fertility ............................................................................................................................. 13

Recommendations from the soil fertility sample analysis ................................................... 16

Progress per area of implementation ..................................................................................... 16

Progress per area of implementation ..................................................................................... 17

Demonstration CA trials: Gobizembe ................................................................................. 17

Cover Crop Demonstration ............................................................................................. 18

Demonstration CA trial: Ntabamhlophe .............................................................................. 19

Demonstration CA trials: Mayizekanye .............................................................................. 20

CA demonstration trials: Ozwathini .................................................................................... 22

Ozwathini Strip Cropping Demonstration ........................................................................... 23

Demonstraiton CA trials: Impendle .................................................................................... 25

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 25

Crop Growth Monitoring ......................................................................................................... 26

eMapanekeni ...................................................................................................................... 26

Ntwasahlobo ................................................................................................................... 27

Cornfields ........................................................................................................................... 29

Farmer Innovation Platforms ................................................................................................. 30

Ozwathini Open Day; Cover crops ..................................................................................... 30

ExecutivesummaryTheKZNMidlandsprogramme is in its fourthyearofoperation,expandingon themodelandprocesspilotedintheBergvillearea.Communitiestargetedinthisseasonare:

• Swayimane(3rdyear)–4learninggroups• Cornfields(4thyear)–1learninggroup• Appelbosch(2ndyear)–3learninggroups• Tabamhlophe(2ndyear)–1learninggroup• Impendle(1styear)–1learninggroup

Thetotalnumberofparticipantsinlearningandawarenessraisingeventswere142(OzwathiniandNtabamhlope)andthetotalnumberoffarmerleveltrialsimplementedincreasedfrom85in2018-2019to192in2019-2020.

SeasonpreparationbeganinSeptemberwithCAintroductorymeetingsinnewareasaswellasthecollectionofrepeatsoilfertility(6participants)andsoilhealthsamples(4participants).Araingaugeandrun-offpanshavebeeninstalledfor1householdinGobizembe(Swayimane).

This was then followed by spraying workshops which were conducted in Impendle andNtabamhlophe as herbicide spraying is required prior to planting. Planting commenced frommid-Novembertothe16thofJanuaryandhasbeencompletedacrossallareas.Therainshavebeen fairly abundant this season as it has been raining consistently sinceNovember,makingplantingafairlyeasyprocesswithmanyfarmersbeingoptimisticabouthowtheseasonwillturnout.

AndOpendaywasheldinOzwathini,focusedoncovercrops,withinclusionoflocalandregionalstakeholders,towardstheendofSeptember2019.ThestripcroppingdemonstrationtrailwithperennialfodderspecieswasheldinOzwathini,inassociationwithKZNDARDinJanuary2020.

Figure 1: Collections of soil fertility and soil health samples in Mayizekanye and Gobizembe in September

BackgroundandOrganisationalInformationMahlathini Development Foundation (2003-20120) is one of the only NGOs in South Africafocussing on promoting collaborative pro-poor agricultural innovation. As such MDF is aspecialist NGO working in the fields of participatory research, training and implementation,focussingonagroecologicalapproaches.

IntroductionofCAintoanyfarmingsystemrequiresthecreationofaprocessandenvironmentofcontinuousinnovation, learningandchangeinanumberofdifferentareas, includingsocial,economic,environmentalandagronomicconsiderations.Inthesmallholdercontextitrequiresthedesign,introductionandfacilitationofareasonablycomplexIS(innovationsystem)approachby the implementers, and of practice, labour and resources (including natural and financialresources)bythefarmerthathassystemwideimplications.Thereisaninterplayofanumberofdifferentfactors,allofwhichneedtobeintegrated,thusrequiringawell-designedandfacilitatedISapproach.

TheISmodelappliesafamilyofapproachesandmethodologies,suchastheFarmerFieldSchool(FFS) approach and participatory monitoring & evaluation (PM&E), to facilitate awareness,learning,implementationandresearchalltogether.Thekeyvoluntaryparticipantsofthisprocessare farmers froma localityor villagewho shouldbeorganised into learninggroups (farmersgenerallyarealreadyorganisedintostructuressuchassavingsandcreditgroups,associationsorcooperatives). A number of farmers in that group volunteer to undertake on-farmexperimentation,whichcreatesanenvironmentwherethewholegrouplearnsthroughouttheseasonbyobservationsandreflectionsofthetrials’implementationandresults.TheycomparevariousCA treatmentswith their standardpractices,which areplanted as control plots. Thisprovidesanopportunitytoexploreallaspectsofthecroppingsystem,itssocio-economiccontextandfeasibility,aswellasthegrainandlegumevaluechaininthearea.Thewholevaluechainisconsidered:inputsupply,productionaspects,harvestingandstorage,processingandmarketing

Horizontalexpansion(scalingout)fromvillagenodestosurroundingfarmersandvillagesinthearea,workingwithorganisedfarmergroups(orIPs) incollaborationwithstakeholders intheregionhasshowngreatpromiseforexpansionofinterestinandlongertermsustainabilityoftheimplementationofCApracticesamongsmallholders.Itmeansthatanumberofvillagesincloseproximity become involved and this provides an opportunity for organising farmers aroundissues in thevalue chain suchasbulkbuying, transport, storageandmarketing. It creates anoptiontosetupfarmerservicecentresatcentralnodesthatcanprovideeasyaccesstoinputsandservices.Themodelalsoprovidesforlearningoveraperiodoftime,whichhasprovenessentialtoalloweachparticipantfarmertoexperimentwithandmaster/adapttheCAprinciplesforatleast 4 years. Themore experienced farmersbecomementors to thenewentrants and someundertaketheroleoflocalfacilitationandsupporttotheirvillagesandgroups.Italsoprovidesaplatformwhereotherfarmersandinterestedpartiesintheareacanengageandbecomeinvolved

Theadaptivetrialsarealsousedasafocuspointforthebroadercommunitytoengagethroughlocallearningeventsandfarmers’days.Stakeholdersandthebroadereconomic,agriculturalandenvironmentalcommunitiesaredrawnintotheseprocessesandevents.ThroughtheseeventsInnovation Platforms (IPs) are developed for cooperation, synergy between programmes anddevelopment of appropriate and farmer led processes for economic inclusion. These IPs alsoprovideagoodopportunitytofocusscientificandacademicresearchonthe‘needs’oftheprocess.

SELECTIONANDCOMMUNITYLEVELPROCESSPRE-CONDITION;Farmersactiveinmaizeproductionwithsomelevelofsocialorganisation1.Entryintocommunity;throughwordofmouthfromcommunitymembers(individualandgrouprequests),governmentofficials,otherserviceorganisations,2.Setupintroductorymeetingsatcommunitylevel,includingauthorities,tointroduceCAandtheprocess:

-Setuplearningorinterestgroup(20-30people)-Membersoflearninggroupvolunteerforfarmerledexperimentation(usually9-12membersinthefirstyear),whiletherestofthegrouplearnsalongsidethem-ThesemembersagreetodoaCAtrialalongsidetheircontrol(normalwayofplanting)-Trialsareusually100,400or1000m2(smallareastoreducerisk)-Theprogrammeprovidesinputsforthetrial,theinputsforcontrolandalllabourareprovidedbythefarmer(theriskofimplementingthenewideainitiallysitswiththeprogrammenotthefarmers.Fromthe2ndyearonwardsthefarmerspayastandard30%subsidytowardsthecostsofinputsfortheirtrials)-FarmersaretrainedintheimplementationofCA;pre-plantingspraying(useofknapsacksprayers)andfieldpreparation,useofherbicides,layoutofplotsandplantinginbasinsandrowsusingarangeofno-tilltools(handplanters,animaldrawnplantersandortworowtractor-drawnplanters).Thechoiceofimplementsdependsonthescaleoffarmingandfarmers’choice.Aspectssuchastopdressing,weedingandpestcontrolarecoveredduringtheseasonaswell.-Thefirst-yeartriallayoutispre-determinedthroughtheprogramme–toincludeclosespacing,intercroppinganddifferentvarietiesofmaize(choiceoftraditionalOPVorhybridseed-accordingtofarmerpreferences)andlegumes(sugarbeans,cowpeas)-Fromthe2ndyearonwardsfarmersstarttoaddtheirownelementstotheexperimentationdependingontheirlearning,questionsandpreferences.Covercrops(bothsummerandwinter)andcroprotationoptionsareintroduced.-Researchermanaged“trials”arealsosetupatindividualhomesteads,toworkalongsidethemoreenthusiasticandcommittedparticipantsandtoexploreissuessuchassoilhealth,carbonsequestrationsoilfertility,waterproductivity,moistureretention,run-offandspecificaspectsoftheCAsystem–suchasseedingandseedingratesofcovercropsetc.-Asaminimum,2-4learningsessionsperseasoninthelearninggroupareheldeachyear,buildingincomplexityandcontent.1reviewsessionfortheseasonandoneplanningsessiontoplanexperimentationfortheupcomingseason-Plantersandknapsacksprayersareprovidedtothelearninggrouptoshare,manageandmaintain-SettingupofVLSA’s(villagesavingsandloanassociations),farmercentresandjointharvesting,storageandmillingoptionsarepromoted

3.Eachseasonfarmersdaysareorganisedineacharea,jointlywiththelearninggroups,CAforumsandinnovationplatformsarepromotedwhereallstakeholdersinaregionjointheseforumstoshare,discussandplantogether.ThisincludesroleplayerssuchasDARD,SocialDevelopment,LandCare,LocalandDistrictMunicipalities,Agribusinessserviceproviders,NGOs

Inthisseason(2019-2020)wehavefocusedonthefollowingelementsofthemodel,namely:

a) Supportfarmersintheir1stto4thseasonsofimplementationb) Intercroppingandcroprotationc) Lateseasonplantingofbeansd) Summercovercrops;sunflower,Sunnhemp,Babala,Dolichosbeanse) Continuationwithexperimentationwithwintercovercrops, includingnewspecies

requestedbyfarmers(Lucerne,clover,turnips)f) Introductionofstripcroppingwithperennial fodderspeciesasan implementation

optiong) Expansionofuseoftwo-rowCAplantersforlargerfieldsh) Continued support for VLSAs (Village savings and Loan associations) and small

businessdevelopmenttrainingfortheseparticipantsandi) Initiationofnodesforfarmercentresthatcanoffertools,inputpacksandadvice

Keyactivities:October2019toFebruary2020Thisseason,alongwiththepreferredmaizevarieties,SC701andPAN6479,threeshortseasonvarietiesarebeingtriedout,invillageswherelateplantinghasbeennecessaryduetolateonsetof rain and variable rainfall. These varieties are PAN3A-173 (ultra-earlywhite), PAN 5A-291(mediumearly-white)andPAN5A-190(mediumearly-yellow).

Two row planters are now available in both Swayimane (shared by 4 learning groups) andOzwathini(sharedbyonelargelearninggroup).SessionshavebeenheldtoensurethecorrectoperationandmaintenanceoftheseplanersandtheextensionstafffromKZNDARDhavebeenbroughtintoassistinthisregard.

AseasonalthematicfocusoncovercropswaskickstartedinOzwathiniwithanopendaythatinvolvedmembersofalltheMidlandslearninggroups,KZNDARD,LandCareandAGTFoods.Thisaspectiscrucialforsoilfertilityandsoilhealthimprovement,soilerosioncontrolonthesteeperslopesand livestock integration. Interest in theuseof covercropshas increaseddramaticallywithinthelearninggroupsintheMidlands,duetoearlypositiveresultsobtainedbythehandfulof participantswho have tried this to date. The strip cropping farmer level experimentationprocesswithperennial fodderspecies(suchasLespediza,Bahiagrass (Paspalum)andCatstailgrass(Digiteria)),ispartofthisfocus.

ParticipantsnumbersinexistinglearninggroupsinSwayimaneandOzwathinihaveincreaseddramaticallyinthisseason.ThepartnershipwithLimaRDFinNtabamhlophe(Estcourt)hasbeencontinued and strengthened through direct involvement of LandCare in this area and a newpartnershiphasbeeninitiatedwiththeINR(InstituteofNaturalResources)inImpendleaspartofaninitiativetopilotsoilandwaterconservationpracticesinthecatchment

The Cornfields (Estcourt area) focus has continued, despite the understanding both in thecommunityandbythefacilitatorsthatthisislikelyaverymarginalareaformaizeproduction-duetoclimaticconditionsandextremelypoorsoilsinthearea.Thelearninggroupmembershavecontinuedtodothebesttheycanmanage,underthecircumstances.

BudgetThebudgetsetasideforthe1stsix-monthperiod,accordingtotheoverallworkplanisR322415.ActualexpenditureforthelastfivemonthshasbeenR344325.Despitelimitedover-expenditurein this period, the overall programme is on track and the budget is deemed sufficient forcompletionontargetinSeptember2019.Aonce-offlumpsumofR98000waspaidtoSoilHealthSolutionsforsoilsampleanalysis.

Thefigurebelowoutlinesthebudgetandexpendituretodate.

Figure 2: Budget and expenditure for Oct2019-March 2020 on the Midlands project

ResultsachievedtodateTenlearninggroupshavebeensupportedunderthisprocess.Training/learningworkshopshavebeenconductedforthefollowingtopics:

• Howto implementCA: introduction to theprinciples, soilhealth,cropdiversificationanddifferentplantingoptionsforCA

• Workingwithherbicidesandknapsacksprayers:informationondifferentherbicides,their uses and safetymeasures, aswell as operation of knapsack sprayers, protectiveclothing,etc.

• TrialplotlayoutandplantingusingdifferentCAplantingequipmentsuchashoes,MBLIplanters,andanimaldrawnnottillplanters.

• Topdressingandpestcontrolmeasuresformid-seasongrowthofcropsandplantingofcovercropmixtureswherepeoplehavebeeninterestedinthisoption

The learning groups provide the innovation platforms also for discussion of the value chainissues,suchasbulkbuying,harvesting,storageandmillingoptionsandmarketing.

The table below outlines activities related to objectives and key indicators for the period ofOctober2019-February2020.

Table 1:SUMMARYOFPROGRESS(OCTOBER2019-FEBRUARY2020)RELATEDTOOBJECTIVESANDKEYACTIVITIES

BUDGET EXPENDITURE

Milestones/ Outputs Key activities

OUTCOMES/ DELIVERABLES Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March

SepActual expenditure per budget item Pd grainSA

Administraiton and sundries

travel accommodation, admin, publications, monitoring and evaluation R74 400,00 R11 183,86 R54 193,37 R20 000,00

Farmer centred innovation systems

farmer experimentation, researcher managed experimentation, savings gorups, farmer centres… R308 558,00 R20 698,00 R30 352,00 R50 366,00

Research trials, soil health and soil fertility, monitoring and evaluations R112 800,00 R31 740,40 R20 269,57

Innovation platforms

Stakeholder meetings, platform building and events R41 600,00 R6 861,31

R63 622,26 R84 545,37 R0,00 R97 496,88 R98 660,00

R537 358,00 R84 572,00 R89 091,00 R37 188,00 R37 188,00 R37 188,00 R37 188,00

Workplan budget Oct-Sept R322 415,00R173 663,00 R210 851,00 R248 039,00 R285 227,00 R322 415,00 Actual R344 324,51

Sub - TOTAL: Oct 2019-Sept2020

INVOICES

Farmer experimenta

tion

KZN Midlands Milestones: Farmer Centred Innovation in CA. October 2019- September 2020

Objectives Keyactivities Summaryofprogress % completion andcomment

OBJECTIVE 1:To engage inparticipatoryresearchrelated to thesmallholderconservationagriculturefarmingsystem;includingaspects of soilhealth, waterconservationand increasedproductivityand diversityusing alearningsystemsapproach.

Key activity 1.Farmer levelexperimentationanddemonstrations infodder productionsystemsKey activity 2. Soilhealth and waterconservationmonitoringKey activity 3.Stakeholderengagement inparticipatoryresearch:

Planting and assessment of differentfodder crops (annual andperennial) intotheCAexperimentationprocess:

-Intercroppingwith legumesandcovercropsin8villages-Strip cropping with perennialfodderoptionsin2villages

Researcher managed quantitativeoutcomesforanumberofsoilhealthandwaterconservationindicators

-Soilfertilitysamples;repeat(16)samplesacross2villages-Soil health samples; 4participants/4villages-Run-offplotsandraingauges:1village-Water productivity: 4participantsacross4villages

Articles and promotional material toengage stakeholders in the broaderenvironment and sharing of informationthroughvariousinnovationplatformsandprocesses; including the internet, socialand networking platforms andconferences-farmers open day in Ozwathini(September30th,2019)-Development of a Cover crops handoutandposterforuseinstakeholderevents-WritingofabookchapterforCABI:CAinAfrica

Cover crops plantedby 50% ofparticipants(50%completion)Soil fertility samplesresults have beenanalysed and areincluded in thisreportSoil health sampleresults have beenobtained andanalysisisinprocess.(50%completion)(50%completion)

OBJECTIVE 2:Toincreasethesustainabilityand efficiencyof CA systemsin the studyareas givingspecificattentiontothevalue chainandincorporationinto thebroaderagribusinessenvironment.

Key activity 1:Farmer-centredInnovationSystemsResearch:Key activity 2.Value chain andagribusinesssupport:Key activity 3:Support Localfacilitators:

Jointly design and implement farmer-ledadaptation trials and a basket of farmerlevel experimentation protocols from CAbestpracticeoptions.-204 farmer level trials set up across 10villages; including intercropping withlegumesandcovercropsoptions.Promotion and of VSLAs farmer centresand small business development amongindividualsmallholderfarmers-Start-upof1newVSLAs(Ozwathini)Training and mentoring support for atleast6LocalFacilitatorstoincreasetheircapacity organise local farmers, logisticsand planning for cropping options andmonitoring of the farmer levelexperimentation.-6Localfacilitatorshavebeencapacitatedtosupport theirgroups– spraying, inputsupplyanddelivery,plotlayout,andcropgrowthmonitoring

Spraying, planting,top dressing, pestcontrol and growthmonitoringhasbeenconducted.(50%completion)(50%completion)In a number of thevillages, individualswho can fulfil theroleofanLFhavenotcome forward andthis is still managedbyMDFstaff(50%completion)

OBJECTIVE 3:Strengthenanduse differentinnovationplatforms asavenues toscale outsustainedcollectiveaction and CApractices.

Key activity 1.Further developthe ParticipatoryMonitoring andEvaluation(PM&E)framework:Key activity 2.Facilitateinnovationplatforms forlearning andnetworking:Key activity 3.StrengthenInnovationPlatforms:

Experienced farmers (farmer facilitators)andthefacilitationteamassistinscientific,ongoing monitoring (qualitative andquantitative) and support to farmerexperimenters.-Quantitative research elementsconducted in partnership with 4experiencedfarmersacross4villages(inclrun-off plots, rain gauges, waterproductivityandsoilhealthanalysisLearning group sessions for discussionandlearning.-At least 3 sessions have been heldwithlearning groups across 5-6 villages –themes have included CA principles,spraying, inclusion of fodder and covercrops, expansion into larger areas,marketing options, cooperativedevelopmentandentrepreneurshipInnovationplatformevents:-Ozwathini farmers day; Focus on Covercrops, Inclusion of LandCare, KZNDARD,AGT Foods and participants fromSwayimane-Ntabamhlophe CA awareness day co-hostedbyLandCareBi-annual steering committee meetings(Notdoneasyet)

Two new internswith MSc’s inAgriculture and SoilScience have beenbrought onboard toassist.Crop growthmonitoringusingthependragon e-surveyhas been continuedthisseason(50%completion)(50%completion)(50%completion)

Aperformancedashboardisindicatedbelow.Thisprovidesasnapshotofperformanceaccordingtosuggestednumbersandoutputsintheproposal.

Table 2:PERFORMANCEDASHBOARD;FEBRUARY2020

Outputs Proposed (March 2019)

Actual (Feb 2020)

Number of areas of operation 2 5 Number of villages active 12 10 No of local facilitators 6 6 No of direct beneficiaries; farmer level experimentation

120 204

Fodder trials with KZNDARD 2 2 Stakeholder Events 3 1 Value chain support Not defined 1x new VSLA Articles, conferences 1-3 of ea 1 book chapter Soil fertility samples 90 32 Soil health samples 84 67

ThetablebelowsummarisesfarmerlevelCAtrial implementationforthe2019-2020plantingseason. A total of 204 trial participants have planted trials this season, showinga significantupswingininterest

Table 3:SUMMARYOFFARMERINNOVATIONNUMBERANDAREASPLANTEDPERVILLAGEINTHISCAPROCESS;KZNMIDLANDS,2019-2020

Area Village 2016 2017 2018 2019 Experi-mentation

Comments;inclplantersused.

Estcourt Cornfields 8 9 10 13 Intercropping;PAN6470,Pan148beans,cowpeas

DemonstrationplotatMrMiya’shomestead.

NewHanover;Swayimane

Mayizekanye1ThembiMkhize

6 8 15 Intercropping:SC701,PAN9292beans,cowpeas

HandhoesandMBLIplantersused.

Mayizekanye2MrsNxusa

9 8 12 Intercropping:SC701,PAN9292beans,cowpees

HandhoesandMBLIandtworowplantersused

Mayizekanye3NomusaShandu

8 9 19 Intercropping:SC701,Pan9292beans,cowpeas

HandhoesandMBLIandtworowplantersused

Gobizembe 9 12 19 Intercropping:SC701,PAN148beans,cowpeas

HandhoesandMBLIplantersused.

Appelbosch Ozwathini 15 44 Intercropping:SC701,PAN9292beans,cowpeas

HandhoesandMBLIandtworowplantersused

Tabamhlophe DeKlerk,EmdwabuLoskop

20 45 Intercropping:PAN6479PAN148beans,cowpeas

HandhoesandMBLIplantersused.

Impendle Emapanekeni,Ntwasahlobo

40 Intercropping:PAN6479PAN148beans,mixedbrowncowpeas

HandhoesandMBLIplantersused.

TOTAL 9 26 41 82 204

OverallprocessAsthisisanexisting‘technology’thefarmerlevelexperimentationisinessenceanadaptationtrialprocess.

Year1:Experimentaldesignispre-definedbytheresearchteam(basedonpreviousimplementationinthe area in an action research process with smallholders). It includes a number of differentaspects:

• Intercroppingofmaize,beansandcowpeas• IntroductionofOPVandhybridvarietiesforcomparison(1varietyofmaizeandbeans

respectively)• Closespacing(basedonArgentineansystem)• Mixtureofbasinandrowplantingmodels• Useofno-tillplanters(handheld,animaldrawnandtractordrawn)

• Use ofmicro-dosing of fertilizers based on a generic recommendation from local soilsamples

• Herbicidessprayedbeforeoratplantingonly• DecisForteusedatplantingandtop-dressingstageforcutwormandstalkborer• Plantingofcovercrops;summerandwintermixes

Experimentaldesignincludes2treatments;plantertype(2)andintercrop(2).Seethediagrambelow.

Figure 3: Example of plot layouts for the 1st level farmer trials

The basic process for planting thus includes: Close spacing of tramlines (2 rows) of maize(50cmx50cm)andlegumes(20cmx10cm)intercropped,useofavarietyofOPVandhybridseed,weed control through a combination of pre- planting spraying with herbicide and manualweedingduringtheplantingseasonandpestcontrolusingDecisForte,sprayedonceatplantingandonceattopdressingstage.

For thetractordrawntworowplanter the layouthasbeenadaptedto incorporatebothclosespacingandintercropping.Rowsareplantedwiththefollowingorderandspacing;Maize-50cm-Beans-25cm-Beans-50cmMaize

Year2:Based on evaluation of experiment progress for year 1, includes the addition of options thatfarmerschoosefrom.Farmersalsotakeonsprayingandplotlayoutthemselves:

• AnumberofdifferentOPVandhybridvarietiesformaize,inclusionofshortseasonmaizevarieties

• Anumberofdifferentoptionsforlegumes(includingsummercovercrops)• Plantingmethodofchoice• Comparisonofsinglecropandintercroppingplantingmethods• Useofspecificsoilsampleresultsforfertilizerrecommendations• Earlyplanting• Ownchoices

Year3:Trialsarebasedonevaluationofexperimentationprocesstodate;toincludeissuesofcostbenefitanalysis,bulkbuyingforinputsupply,jointactionsaroundstorage,processingandmarketing.

PLOT 1: Hand Hoe PLOT 2: Planter

Maize 1, bean 1 Maize 2, Bean 1 Maize 1, bean 1 Maize 2, Bean 1

Maize 1, Bean 2 Maize 2, Bean 2 Maize 1, Bean 2 Maize 2, Bean 2

PLOT 3: OR repeat plot 1 and 2 PLOT 4:Hand hoe Planter Hand hoe Planter

Maize 1,cowpea Maize 1,cowpea Maize 1, DolichosMaize 1, dolichos

Maize 2, Cowpea Maize 2, Cowpea Maize 2, DolichosMaize 2, Dolichos

10m

or 5m

10m or 5m

Farmersdesigntheirexperimentsforthemselvestoincludesomeofthefollowingpotentialfocusareas:

• Earlyorlateplanting;withoptionstodealwithmoreweedsandincreasedstalkborerpressure.

• Herbicidemixtobeusedpreandatplanting(Roundup,DualGold,Gramoxone)• ApestcontrolprogrammetoincludedealingwithCMRbeetles• Intercroppingvscroprotationoptions• Spacinginsingleblockplantings• Use of composted manure for mulching and soil improvement in combination with

fertilizer• Soilsampleresultsandspecificfertilizerrecommendations• PlantingofDolichosandotherclimbingbeans• Summer and winter cover crops; crop mixes, planting dates, management systems,

plantingmethods(furrowsvsscatter)• Seedvarieties;consciousdecisionsaroundOPVs,hybridsandGMseeds;inclusionofshort

seasonmaizevarieties

SoilfertilitySoilfertilitysamplesaretakenforaselectionofparticipantsonayearlybasisforthefollowingreasons:

1. SamplesaretakenfornewentrantCAparticipantstoascertaintheirsoilfertilitystatusand fertility amelioration needs. These results are added to the existing database ofaround200participantsforSKZNandECtodeterminebothagenericrecommendationfor the area and to ascertain any specific requirements for individuals forwhom thegenericrequirementsarenotappropriate

2. Repeatsamplesaretakenforparticipantsintheir3rdand4thyearofimplementationofCA,toascertainanypotentialsoil fertilitydifferencesrelatedtoCAwhencomparedtoconventionalcropping.

Thisseasonrepeatsamplesweretakenfor4participantsfromSwayimane(Mayizekanye1,2,3andGobizembe.Theresultsaresummarisedinthefiguresbelow

(NOTE:RT=repeatCAtrialplotandRC=RepeatControlplot)

Figure 4: Soil fertility results for 2017,2018 and 2019 for 3 participants form Mayizekanye

FromthefigureaboveforMayizekanye,thefollowingpointscanbemade:

• ThepHof theCA trialplotsand theconventional controlplotshave remainedsimilaracrossthethreeseasons

• The acid saturation percentage in the CA plots has decreased significantly (23,6% to8,8%),whilethatinthecontrolplotshasincreasedslightlyfrom18,2%to20%.Thisisaninterestingoutcome,relatedpotentiallynotonlytotheapplicationoflime,butalsotothebalancingofsoilmineralsinsolutionduetomulti-croppingoptionsusedintheCAtrialplots

• ThepercentageofNintheCAtrialplotshasdecreasedfrom0,20%to0,11%whiletheconventional control plots have seen a reasonably significant increase from 0,09% to0,17%.Asthesoilsamplesaretakenafterharvestandpriortoplantingandfertilization,thisfigureisindicativeofthenitrogenavailableinthesoilforusebycrops.Theseresultscannoteasilybeexplainedwhenconsideringthecroppingoptionsandsystem–astheCA trial plots have been intercropped with legumes and cover crops, which shouldincreasetheavailableNandthecontrolplotshavenot.

• ThepercentageorganiccarbonissimilarforboththeCAtrialplotsandtheconventionalcontrolplotsat2,28%and2,24%respectively.Thelower%organicCforboththeCAandconventionalplotsin2018,whencomparedto2017and2019,ismostlikelyaresult

MAYI MAYI MAYI MAYI MAYI2017 2018 2018 2019 2019

RT RC RT RT RCpH 4,40 4,28 4,36 4,66 4,25N (kg/ha) 65,30 68,00 70,00 68,00 68,00P (kg/ha) 33,00 28,00 26,67 21,00 22,00K (kg/ha) 2,00 2,00 0,83 12,00 12,00Lime (t/ha) 2,30 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,25MAP (50kgbags/ha) 2,70 2,54 2,54 1,90 1,98LAN (50kg bags/ha) 3,10 3,86 4,05 5,00 5,00Org. C % 2,10 1,50 1,73 2,28 2,24N % 0,20 0,09 0,11 0,13 0,17Acid sat (%) 23,60 18,17 16,67 8,80 20,00

0,00

10,00

20,00

30,00

40,00

50,00

60,00

70,00

80,00

Axis

Title

Mayizekanye 1,2,3 soil fertility repeat smaples or 2017-2019

oftheenvironmentalconditions(lateonsetrainwithhotdryconditionsmid-season)andnotduetothecroppingsystemused.

• FertilizerrequirementsfortheCAtrailandconventionalcontrolplotsareequivalentforN(68kg/ha),P(21to22kg/ha)andK(12kg/ha).

In summary there is very little discernible difference between the CA trial plots and theconventionalcontrolplotsintermsofsoilfertilityparametersinMayizekanye.Participantsarenot paying enough attention to increasing soil cover in their CA experiments and are alsoreluctanttoundertaketheclosespacingsuggested.TheytendtoremoveweedsfromthefieldsandarethuslosingmanyofthebenefitsCAcanprovidefortheircroppingsystem.

(NOTE:RT=repeatCAtrialplotandRC=RepeatControlplot)

Figure 5: Soil fertility results for 2017,2018 and 2019 for 31participant from Gobizembe

For this participant, the results for the different soil fertility parameters for her CA trial andconventional control plots are very similar. The difference seen in the 2018 results, whencomparedto2017and2019areismostlikelyaresultoftheenvironmentalconditions(lateonsetrain with hot dry conditions mid- season) and not due to the cropping system used. Thisparticipantalsohasnotpaidenoughattentiontothefactors intheCAcroppingsystemwhichwouldimprovetheseparameters;namelysoilcover,inter-croppingandclosespacing.

GOB GOB GOB GOB GOB2017 2018 2018 2019 2019

RT RC RT RT RCpH 4,30 4,21 4,31 4,26 4,10N (kg/ha) 64,00 70,00 70,00 60,00 60,00P (kg/ha) 38,00 25,00 30,00 20,00 20,00K (kg/ha) 12,00 27,50 0,00 85,00 107,50Lime (t/ha) 3,40 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00MAP (50kgbags/ha) 2,90 2,25 2,70 1,80 1,80LAN (50kg bags/ha) 2,90 4,10 3,95 3,60 3,60Org. C % 2,50 2,15 1,45 4,10 3,80N % 0,20 0,11 0,09 0,30 0,26Acid sat (%) 30,00 11,67 18,00 27,50 26,50

0,00

20,00

40,00

60,00

80,00

100,00

120,00

Axis

Title

Gobizembe repeat soil samples 2017-2019

In general, for Swayimane (Mayiekanye and Gobizembe) attention will need to be given toprovision of K in the generic fertilizer regime, as thus far only MAP and LAN have beenrecommended.

Recommendationsfromthesoilfertilitysampleanalysis1. Waysinwhichtopreserveandbuildsoilcarbonareimportantinthisarea(whichhasa

highpotentialforlossoforganiccarbon):a. Mulchingwithweedsisveryimportantinthissystemb. Mulchingwithcutgrassorotherorganicmatterifpossiblec. Ensuringcanopycoverasearlyintheseasonaspossible–thusclosespacingd. Introducingalargediversityofcropsasearlyaspossible,especiallylegumes.e. Inclusionofmanureinthesystem

2. Reducesyntheticfertilizersovertime3. Ensurelegumesareacentralcomponentofcovercropandrotationoptions.4. Cowpeas are an important inclusion in the intercropping process- showing ability to

increaseorganicCandNsubstantially,intheshortterm.

ProgressperareaofimplementationMostoftheplantingdemonstrationshadagoodattendanceandparticipantsshowedinterestinwhatwastakingplace.Across thedifferentareas,SwayimaneplantedmaizeSC701, Impendleplanted Pannar 6479 and Cornfields andNtabamhlophe planted PAN 53. In terms of beans,Swayimane, Impendle, Cornfields andNtabamhlopheparticipantsplantedPAN9292and Gobizembe farmers planted PAN 148.Summer cover cropswere distributedmainlyin Swayimane, Ntabamhlophe and Cornfieldsand the team is planning to distributewintercovercropsinImpendle.

Sincemostof thegroups inMidlandsplant inJanuary, monitoring is still to be carried out,primarily in Swayimane and Ozwathini.Monitoring has been done in Impendle,CornfieldsandNtabamhlopheandatotalof34cropgrowthmonitoringformshavebeenfilledout. In the areas that have been visited, theoverall germination of maize was good, butbeanswerenotperformingwell,possiblydueto the heat. The challenges with beans weremainly low germination and poor growth. Afew participants had good germination ofmaize,beansandcowpeas.Differentsoilcharacteristicscouldalsobeapossiblereasonforthemixedresultswhenitcomestolegumes.Thecovercropsweregrowingfairlywellinmostareasvisitedbytheteam.

Table4belowisasummaryofinputsdistributedinthedifferentareas.

Figure 6: Delivery and Decanting of Inputs in Gobizembe and Mayizekanye

Table 4:Summary of inputs distributed in the different areas

Progressperareaofimplementation

DemonstrationCAtrials:GobizembeTheGobizembelearninggroupisalwaysthefirsttoplantinSwayimanearea.Itstartedoffwith10membersandhasincreasedto19,withtheadditionalparticipants joiningthisseason.Thegrouphashadchallengesinthewithlowyieldsinthepasttwoyears,especiallyformaizewhichistheirstaplefood.Asaresult,somerequestedtothinoutthemaize.ThedemonstrationwasconductedatMrsZondi’shouse,whereeachparticipantalsocollectedtheirinputs.Thetrialwas400m2insizeandincludedmaize,beansandcovercropsasMrsZondirequestednottoplantcowpeasthisyearasshedoesnotusethem,especiallysinceshedoesnotownanylivestock.Theplotswere10by10metresinsize,withtwoplotsofmaizeandbeans,oneplotofmaizeandmungbeansandoneplotofthecovercropsontheirown.Thecovercropmixconsistedofsunflower,sunhemp,milletandmungbeanswhichwereaddedtothemix.Thefirsttwoplotswereplantedusingthehandhoe,thethirdplotwasplantedwiththehandhoe(tomakebasinsformaize)andtheharakaplanterwasusedforthecovercrops.Thefourthplotwasplantedusingtheharakaplanter.Plantingwentfairlyquicklyandallfourplotswerecompletedasthegroupwasalreadyfamiliarwithplantingtrials.Theplotlayoutisindicatedinthediagramalongside.

Area NoofParticipants2019

NoofParticipants2020

Lime Maize Beans Cowpeas Herbicide

Protectiveclothing

Mayizekanye 24 43 Yes PANSC701

PAN9292

MixedBrown

RoundUp/Gramoxone

No

Gobizembe 10 19 Yes PAN]SC701

PAN148 Mixedbrown

RoundUp No

Cornfields 10 13 No PAN6479

PAN9292

MixedBrown

Gramoxone

Yes(mask,goggles,gloves)

Ozwathini 15 44 Yes(suppliedbyDARD)

PANSC701

PAN9292

Blackeyed

Springbok(suppliedbyDARD)

No

Impendle 0 40 No PAN6479

PAN9292

Blackeyed

RoundUp Yes(protectiveclothing,goggles,masks,gloves)

Ntabamhlophe

29 Yes PAN148 Blackeyed

RoundUp

Loskop 16 TOTAL 59 204

M+B M+Mungbeans

M+B SCC

CoverCropDemonstrationMrsXasibeisathirdyearCAparticipantwhoalsokeepslivestockintheformofcattle,goatsaswellaspigs.Sheexpressedinterestintryingoutsomefoddercropsforherlivestockasfeedisbecomingincreasinglyexpensive.Initially,plantingwastotakeplaceinNovember2019butduetotimeconstraintsitwasnotso,andalsosubsequenttosprayingGramoxoneitrainedheavilythusmakingitdifficulttoproceedwithplanting.Thisyear,plantingtookplaceonthe9thofJanuary.Theplotwasdemarcatedintothreeplotsof10by10meters.Plotonewasdividedintotwo10by5mplotsofsummercovercropswithlimeandsummercovercropswithanimalmanure.LucerneandturnipswithlimeandLucerneandturnipswithanimalmanurewereplantedinplot2.Beanswereplantedintheremainingbottompartoftheplot.Inplot3,fourrowsofmaize,fourrowsofbeans,fourrowsofsummercovercropsandfourrowsofcowpeaswereplantedwithlimeandanimalmanure.Theplotlayoutisshownbelow

PLOT1 PLOT2 PLOT3

SCC(lime)

Lucerne+turnips(lime)

4rowsmaize4rowsbeans4rowsSCC

4rowsCowpea(Limeandanimal

manure)

SCC(manure)

Lucerne+turnips(animalmanure)

Beans(animalmanure)

Figure 7: Planting demo in Mrs Zondi's field, (left) scc, centre (opening of planting basins and rows for maize and mungbeans), right (maize and bean plot)

DemonstrationCAtrial:NtabamhlopheTheplantingdemonstrationinNtabamhlophewasconductedattheendofNovemberandwasattendedby25participants.Theareawasdemarcatedintothreeplotsofmaizeandbeans,maizeandcowpeasaswellassummercovercrops.ThesessionwasconductedbyTematogetherwithLindelwa andNkosinathi from Lima. Plot onewas planted using the hand hoe, plot twowasplantedwiththeMBLIplanterandplotthreewasplantedwiththeharakaplanter.Eachplotwas100m2 in size. It was explained to the participants that spacing formaize is 50 cm and 25centimetresforbeansandthatbasinsareopenedinazigzagmanner.BothlimeandMAPwereadded to each plot usingmicro-dosing before the seedwas sown.The total area plantedwas300m2.Thesessionwentwell,especiallywiththeMBLIplanterasthefarmerstooktoitveryquicklyandsaidtheywouldcontinuetouse it.Surprisingly,mostwerenotkeenonusingtheharaka and said itwas abit heavy topush around. Theplot layout is shown in thediagramalongside.

M+B M+C SCC

Figure 8: left (Ntokozo planting scc with haraka), center (Lucerne and turnip plot), right (adding lime to scc plot

DemonstrationCAtrials:MayizekanyeMayizekanyefarmerscommencedplantingonthe7thofJanuary2020.Theinitialproposeddatewas23Decemberbuttheypostponedasthetractordriverwasnotavailable.Plantingtookplaceon the 7th and on the 14th of January. The first planting demonstration was conducted onDumazile,KhonzephiandThembeniNxusa’sfieldandtheyoptedtoonlyplantmaizeandbeansthisyear,togetherwithacovercropmixtobeaddedinthefirstweekofFebruary.Theirreasonfornotplantingcowpeaswasthattheydonotusethem,andthusprefertoplantsomethingtheycansell.Allthreegroupswererequestedtojointhedemonstration.PlantingtookplaceonboththeCAtrialandtheCAcontrolplot.Inthetrial,theplanterwassetonlowrangegearsetting,on6thgearwhichwas0.43mintra-rowspacingformaize;andon3rdgearforbeanswhichwas0.30minter-rowspacing.Theinter-rowspacingwas60cmformaize.Thefertiliserflutewassetatthelowreleasesettingforthetrialwheremaizeandbeanswereplantedandhighreleasesettingforthecontrol,whereonlymaizewasplanted.Bothlimeandfertiliserweremixedtogetherduringplanting.Thedemonstrationincludedashortexplanationofhowtheplanterworksintermsofadjustingofseedplates,plantingdepth,fertilisersettings,maintenanceetc.Prior toplantingQ20oilwasapplied to thechainandnutsandboltsas theplanterhadbeeninstorageforalongtime.Oneofthechallengeswasthatthetractorgearboxoilwasleaking,resultingintheleverfailingtolifttheplanterwhenchangingrows;butaftertheoilwasboughtandaddedthiswasnolongeraproblem.Thefieldhadaslightslopeandwasuneven,resultinginseednotpenetratinginsomeparts.Also,thesoilkeptgettingstuckinthefertiliserandseedtynesblockingthefertiliserand

Figure 9: top left (opening lines for beans), top right (demonstration of haraka planter) bottom left (explanation of MBLI planter), bottom right (planted plot of maize and beans)

seedfromcomingout.Theteamhadtoconstantlyremovethesoilandcheckwhethertheseedwasactuallygettingintotheground.Althoughmonitoringhasnotyetbeenconducted,MrsNxusainformedtheteamthatthemaizegerminated but had some spaces, and the beans did not germinate well, and those thatgerminatedwereinapoorcondition.Thetwooptionsinthiscasearetoreplantthebeansand/orplantcovercropsshouldtheydieoutcompletely.Onthecontrolplot,themaizewaslookinggoodandwasgrowingmorevigorously,whichisbelievedtobeduetotheincreaseintheamountoffertiliseradded.

Figure 10: left (planted field), center (planter planting maize and beans), right (Ntokozo mixing fertiliser and lime)

ThesecondplantingdemonstrationwasdonewithNomusaShandu’sgroupwhere22participantsattended.Outofthe22thatwerepresent,fivewereparticipantswhohadbeenintheprogramfortwoseasonsandthisistheirthird.ThesessionbeganwitharecaponCAanditsprinciples,andanexplanationoftheplantingprocess.Itwasexplainedthatplantingisdonein400m2plotsthathavenotbeenploughedandaherbicideissprayedpriortoplantingtoremoveactivelygrowingweeds.Thereafterplantingisdonebyhand,althoughthereareotheroptionsavailable.Tworowsofmaizealternatingwithtworowsoflegumesareplantedalternatelyon100m2plots.Thespacingformaizeandlegumesissetat50and25respectively,inordertohavecanopycoverinashorterspaceoftimesoastoreducetheovergrowthofweeds.Winterandsummercovercropswerealsobrieflyexplained,priortotheactualplantingdemonstration.Asagroup,twoplotsofmaizeandbeans,andmaizeandcowpeaswereplanted,andMrsShanduwould later continuewith the rest. Upon the distribution of inputs, therewas a shortage asinitiallyonlysevennewmemberswerereportedbutasitturnedout,therewere19.Theteamemphasizedthatpeopleshouldnotjoinwiththeexpectationofreceivinginputsbutshoulddoso,becausetheywanttolearnsomethingdifferentfromwhattheyarecurrentlydoingandwishtoimprovetheirsoilfertilityandhealthovertime.Thegroupwasalsoinformedaboutsubsidieswhicharepayableuponreceiptofinputsforreturningparticipants,whothenrequestedtopay

intheirsubsidiesinMarchastheyarecurrentlyfinanciallyovercommittedduetootherfarmingactivities.Belowarepicturesofwhattookplaceontheday.

Figure 11: Planting session with New participants in Mayizekanye

CAdemonstrationtrials:OzwathiniTheOzwathiniplantingdemonstrationwasconductedinthreesessions,thefirstonewasthetwo-rowplanter,whichwasusedtoplantmaizeandbeans.Inattendance,weretheExtensionOfficersin the area,WisemanNdlovu and SbusisoMkhize. The fertiliser flutewas placed onmediumrelease,andthegearsweresetonlowrangeat3rdand6thgear.Thespacingformaizewassetat0.43mandbeansat0.30m.Bothfertiliserandlimeweremixedintothefertiliserbinpriortoplanting.Theplanterspecificationswereexplainedanditwasemphasizedthattheparticipantsneedtogreaseitonaregularbasis.Plantingwasdoneinanareaof400m2.Subsequent to thedemoonthe two-rowplanter,anotherdemowasconductedontheharakaplanterwhereamixofsummercovercropsandmungbeanswereplantedonanadjacentplot,of200m2.Plantingwasdoneatafixedspacingof30cmintrarowand40cminterrow,wherethemediumseedplatewasused.Farmerstookturnsinusingtheharakaplanter,andinitially,somefounditheavybutgotusedtoitastheycontinued.Subsequenttothesession,someshowedaninterestinusingitfortheirbeansandcovercrops.ThethirdpracticalwasprimarilyforthosenewtoCAwhereademowasdoneusinghandhoestoshowhowtointercropthemaizeandbeans.Tworowsandmaizeandtworowsofbeanswereplanted.Thiswastheshortestsessionasbythistime,manyfarmerswereexhaustedfromtheheat.

Figure 12: top left and right (manual planting demo), bottom left (Mrs Chamane planting cover crops with the Haraka), right (planting with the two-row planter)

OzwathiniStripCroppingDemonstrationA meeting was conducted on different types of grasses used in fodder production. ThepresentationwasdonebyCharmaineMchunufromCedarawheretheconceptofstripcroppingwas explained as a way tocombinefodderwithfoodthatcouldbeconsumedbyhumans,thus deriving greater benefitfrom a smaller area. Stripcropping is normally done onslopeyareastoreduceerosion,where maize and grasses areplantedinalternatestrips.It was further explained thatperennial grasses are the besttogrowastheyarepermanentand examples were made ofDigiteria and Mooi river mix,whichcanbecut tomakehaybales forcattle inwinter.Lespedezawasdescribedasa typeoflegumethathasalowertannincontentthanLucerne,thusreducingitspotentialtobecometoxictocattle.Tallfescuewassaidtobetheonlyannualgrassinthemix.

Figure 13: Ozwathini Meeting on strip cropping

Figure 14: Fodder Production Demonstration

Onthe14thofJanuarytherewasastripcroppingdemonstrationinOzwathiniwherethegrasseswereplantedina20by10mareademarcatedinto8plotsofalternategrassandmaizestrips.Eachofthe8plotswas2.5x10minsize.Thefollowingtableisadepictionofthelayoutoftheplots.Aseparate10by10mplotofamixofallfourgrasseswasplantedwherethegrassseedwasbroadcastedandanother10by10plotofwintercovercropswhichwerealsobroadcasted.Thefieldwherethedemowasquitefertile,withadarkbrownsoilandalotofearthwormswhichwereuncoveredwhenplanting.Atotalof12participantsvolunteeredtotryoutthestripcroppingontheirindividualplotsandtheyeachreceived50gramsofeachgrassandakgofcovercrops.Thetwoplantingoptionswere:1. Mixingallfourgrassesandplantinginalternatestripswithmaize2. Plantingtheminseparatestripsalternativelywiththemaize.Itwasalsoexplainedthatthewintercovercropscouldeitherbeplantedonasingle10by10plotor in between themaize. The teamwouldmonitor the outcome of each trial by visiting thehouseholdsat a laterdate.Thedateofmonitoringof thedemo trialwas set tobe the12th ofFebruary2020.Theplotlayoutisshowninthediagrambelow

DemonstraitonCAtrials:ImpendleIntroductionTheplantingdemonstrationswerecarriedoutonthe18thand19thofNovemberinNtwasahloboandMapanekenirespectively.ThepurposeoftheCAdemonstrationsistoshowfarmershowtheplantingisdone,fromplotdemarcation,tospacingandplantingmethods.Theplantingwasdonemainlyusinghandhoes;theteamtriedtodemonstratetheMBLIplanterinNtwasahlobobutthebottomcompartmentskeptgettingblockedbythesoilasitwasabitmoistsinceithadrecentlyrained.Bothoftheworkshopshadover90percentattendanceandtheparticipationfromthefarmerswasquiteencouraging.Maize was planted in basins to help keepwateraroundthegrowingplantsandbeanswere planted in tramlines. Each plot wasplantedunder tworowsofmaizeand tworows of legumes, planted alternativelythroughout the plot. A standard 10x10 mplothasatotalof14linesofmaizeand12linesofbeansiftheaforementionedspacingisapplied.Itwasfurtherexplainedthatthemaize is planted in a zig zag and not instraightlinestohelpgiveitbreathingspaceandfortheearstoformproperlyinbetweenplantsaswellastoprovideshelterintoanotherwise empty space in between therows.Figure 15: Ntwasahlobo CA planting Demonstration: 18 November 2019

Plot1

Plot2

Plot3

Plot4

Plot5

Plot6

Plot7

Plot8

Plot9

Plot10

Pansacola(inrow)

Maize(basins)

MooiRivermix(inrow)

Maize(basins)

TallFescue(inrow)

Maize(basins)

Lespedeza(inrow)

Maize(basins)

Pansacola,DigiteriaTallfescue,MooiRiverMix(broadcast)

WinterCoverCrops(broadcast)

Pansacola(broadcast)

Maize(haraka)

MooiRiverMixed(broadcast)

Maize(haraka)

TallFescue(broadcast)

Maize(haraka)

Lespedeza(broadcast)

Maize(haraka)

26

Figure 16: Emapanekeni Planting Demonstration 19 November

CropGrowthMonitoringCropgrowthmonitoringisatit’sbeginningstagesasmostSwayimanegroupswerestillplantinginJanuary.Todate,monitoringhasbeendoneinMpendlealthoughithasnotyetbeencompleted,with3participantsinMapanekeniand11inNtwasahlobohavingbeenvisitedforcropgrowthmonitoring.Duetodelayedgerminationasaresultofnorain,SC701waspantedasareplacementforPAN6479inmostofthetrials.

eMapanekeniInitiallyitwasbelievedthatnoneofthePAN6479hadnotgerminatedasitwastakinglongerthanusualtoemerge.TheteammonitoredthreetrialsineMapanekeni.ThethreeparticipantsvisitedwereMrDuma,AgnesNkalaandMrKhumalo.ThePAN6479hadgerminated inmosttrialsandseemedtobegrowingmoderatelywell.MrDuma’strialhadalotofpatchesinbetweenforbothmaizeandbeans,withmaizegerminationhaving being around70% and bean andcowpeas 40%germination.Therewasalso an overgrowth ofweedsinthefirstplotofthe trial. The second,third and fourth plotshadmanypatchesandaspacing of up to 1 mbetweenmaize.Figure 17: Mr Duma's CA plots

AgnesNkala’splotlookedverybeautiful,andthemaizeappeareddarkgreenandwasgrowingwell.Thegerminationformaizewasover90%andforbeansandcowpeasitwasover80%.There

27

wereafewpatchesinoneoftherowswherethemaizewaseatenbycrows.Therewereveryfewweeds in the trial,which could be attributed to the good germination of both themaize andlegumeswhich quicklyshaded theweeds.Theparticipant alsoweeded early beforetheweedsovertookhercrops. The participantattributed the goodappearanceofher trialtodoingalltheplantingherselfasshefeltotherpeopleleftalotofblankspaces when theyplanted as a group intheotherCAtrials.Figure 18: Mrs Nkala's trial plot

MrKhumalo’smaize appeared to be growingwell but thereweremany patches in between.Germination for beanswasbelow30%andwaseven lower for cowpeas.Nevertheless, the maizehad a good germinationof over 80% and wasgreen in colour. Therewere a fewpatcheshereand there, where MrKhumalo planted in theSC701.Figure 19: Mr Khumalo's trial plot

NtwasahloboNtwasahlobofarmersreportedlyexperiencedthesamechallengeasthoseinEmapanekeniwithregardstogermination,ofPAN6479,butsimilalrlyunponmoniotringitwasseenthatthemaizehadinfactgermnatedreasoanblywell.Itappearsthefarmersweretooreadytoblmaetheseedforlackofgermination,ratherthanthehotdryweatherconditions.ThePAN6479wasgrowingquitewellinmostofthetrialsandtheprimaryissuesidentifiedwerelackofweedingandthepresence of pests although no severe damage was present at the time of monitoring. MrsGwambe, the farmer inwhose field thedemonstrationwasconducted informedtheteamthatnextyearsheisgoingbacktoploughingasCAdidnotworkoutforher,statingthattheweedingwas toomuch. It is possible that shewas also discouraged by the late germination and hadthought that the maize would not emerge. Another setback was that some participants had

28

ploughedtheirfields.Asmanyas4outofthe11thatweremonitoredsaidtheyploughedpriortoplanting.Inoneinstanceitwasnoteasytotellthetrialapartfromthecontrolplotsasthefarmerplanted two different types ofmaize in one field and did not intercrop, rather three lines ofcowpeaswereplantedonanothersideofthehouseanditwassaidthatbeanswillbeplantedinFebruary.BelowaresomepicturesfromNtwasahlobo.

Participants who Planted under CA Theparticipantsinthepicturesbelowhadgoodlookingcropswhichweregrowingvigoroously.Bothmaizeandlegumeshadahighgerminationrateandgooodcanopycoverhadalreadyformedat the time ofmonitoring, whichcontributed to the lowpresence of weeds inthese plots. It isinteresting tonote thatdespitespacingofuptoa metre in betweenmaize plants, thecowpeas still managedto outgrow and shadethe weeds. Cowpea isgenerally a very goodgrounmd cover as itgrows vigorously andfixes more nitrogenthan beans. In MrsMbelu’s plot however,thebottomtworowsofher plot had lowgermination and thusan overgrowth ofweeds.

Ntwasahlobo Participants who ploughed Thereareparticipantswhoploughedtheirplotspriortoplantingandtwooutofthethreeofthemwerenot at home at the timeofmonitoring. It is possible that theseparticipants decidedonploughingastheywerenotyetconvincedthatCAisaviableoptiontomaizeproductionandhadthepotentialofreducingerosionandimprovingsoilhealthovertime.Allofthemplantedmaizeandlegumesseparately.Insomeofthetrials, largeareasofsoilwereexposedduetoplantingundermonocultureusingverylargespacings,whichisseeminglythenorm.

Figure 20: From top left, clockwise 1) Nomusa Gwambe, 2) Mr Mbelu, 3) Sechaba Molefe, 4) Adelaida Molefe

29

Figure 21: Participants who ploughed and mono-cropped. Their plots had large bare areas and a lot of problems with weeds

Thereweretrialsthatdidnotlookgoodasaresultofalackofweeding,suchastheoneinMrsGwambe’sfield(left)andanotherelderlyfarmer’s..Theweedswereacombinationofbroadleafandgrassspecieswithnutsedgebeingquitecommonaswellaskikuyu,blackjackandAmaranthus,Figure 22: Mrs Gwambe’s field , overgrown with weeds

CornfieldsAlthough it has been a struggle to get positive results for the CA experimentation process incornfieldsduetothehighlycompacted, interfilesoilsanddifficultweatherconditions,asmallgroupofparticipantshavecontinuedtotryoutdifferentoptions.Itwasintendedtodothestripcroppingfodderdemonstrationinthearea,butCharmaneMchunufromKZNDARD,insistedontaking soil samplesupon arrival and seeing the conditionof the soil. Thedemonstrationwaspostponed.Theresultshavesubsequentlycomback,indicatingnomajorsoilfertilityissues;giventhattheconcernsaremorerelatedtosoiltypeandstructure.

MonitoringwasconductedtowardstheendofJanuary2020.MrMieya,thelocalfacilitatorfortheareaoptedtoploughhisCAtrialplotasthesoilwastoohardtoplantin.Growthofthis“trial”wasokay,butsevererun-offproblemshavenowbeenexperienced.Headmittedthatploughinghadbeenamistake.Itisverydifficulttosuggestremedialactionforthefarmerswithreallybadsoil;theyinvariablyinsistonplantingmaizeeveryseason,almostregardlessofhowmanytimestheircropsdobadlyandfail

30

Figure 23: Left to right; Mr Miya’s field, ploughed and mono-cropped to maize and beans and a few rows of summer cover crops. Capping and run-off in the field is evident.

FarmerInnovationPlatformsTwoeventswereheldtowardstheendof2019,oneinOzwathinifocussingoncovercropsandoneinNtabamhlopheinassociationwithLandCareasanintroductiontoCAinthearea.

OzwathiniOpenDay;CovercropsAnopendaywashostedbytheOzwathinilearninggrouponthe24thofSeptember,focussingondemonstrationofthetwo-rowtractordrawnplanterandoncovercrops.ThisdaywasheldinassociationwiththeKZNDARD,LandCareandAGTFoods,whodonatedarangeofCCseedsanddid a presentation on cover crops for the group. Around 120 farmers participated, includingfarmersfromSwayimaneandBergvilleBelowarepicturesoftheCCposterandhandoutsprovidedtoallparticipants.

Figure 24: Cover crop poster and handouts provided at the Ozwathini farmers’ day (in isiZulu)

31

Themechanisationdemonstrationhadtheintentionofshowcasingthenewlyacquiredtwo-rowplanterforthegroup,butalsotodemonstratecontourplantingforthesteeperslopestypicalofthe area, aswell as using the planter to inter cropmaize and beans. The two separate seedhoppers,meansthattheycanbesetfordifferentseedtypesanddifferentplantingdepthsmakingintercroppinganeasyandrealisticoption. Figure 25: Right; The two-row planter with different seed types (maize, sugar beans) in the seed hopers and Far right: a view of the planter being demonstrated in the field

MrSimonHodgesfromAGTFoods,headoftheircovercropsdivision,wasanimportantguestandspeakerattheevent.CovercropsareimportantinCAsystemsforimprovementofsoilfertilityandsoilhealthandalso for provisionof fodder forlivestock

Figure 26: Right: Mr Hodges doing his power point presentation at the open day and Far right; examples of cover crops – millet and mung beans.