The vision of the CA-FIP is to support initiatives to develop,
test, replicate and scale-up innovative IMBMs,
such as carbon tax funds, REDD Plus, carbon trading,
payment for ecosystem services, offset agreements,
and watershed service agreements, which leverage
resources for the conservation or
improvement of ecosystems services.
The emphasis is on on-farm, farmer-led
research and the inescapable experiential and social
learning that this generates; both of which critically place
the farmer in the central role.
Farmers are lead or equal partners in identifying research
needs, as well as designing, implementing and evaluating
experiments; it gives farmers independence,
ownership and capacity.
Improving the sustainability and
profitability of grain production
Challenges:
Facilitate a farmer-centred
CA Innovation System
Actions:
Increased innovation
capacity and sustainability
Outcomes:
A FARMER-CENTERED INNOVATION SYSTEMS
APPROACH TO STIMULATE ADOPTION OF
CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA
HJ Smith and M Visser
Grain SA, PO Box 74087, Lynwood Ridge, 0040, South Africa
Email: hendrik.smith@grainsa.co.za
The Grain SA-FIP prioritises the training of key stakeholders
actively involved in the on-farm CA Innovation System,
since recent experiences have shown that there is a dire
capacity need in those ‘occupations’ that we depend on to
mainstream CA in SA. The two actors or occupations
intimately involved are farmers and
extension offi cers.
To initiate and advocate the
innovation process, various types of
awareness activities are applied.
A clear and ‘pure’ description of
successful CA farming systems
practiced in specific areas or agro-
ecological zones in the form of a
‘living manual’.
Incentive and
Market Based Mechanisms
Education and Training
On-farm Research
Minimal mechanical
soil disturbancePermanent organic
soil coverCrop
diversifi cation
Access to Info
Awareness
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Farmer-centred
Innovation System
Driven by innovation platforms and social learning
and aiming to mainstream Conservation Agriculture by
grain producers to ensure sustainable use and management
of natural resources while enhancing national and
household food security and income.
Direct, fairly simple
and competitive
access to funds