Hollard Insure and Farmingportal.co.za and Agri News Net - Young Agri Writers competition-
Meeting the rising demand for food and the growing population under the realities of climate change is a challenge and requires major adjustments in our production systems. Our level of production is threatened by the occurrence of abnormal weather, which ranges from little rainfall, high temperatures, strong winds and so forth. Amid it all, the question remains, ‘which production methods can we utilize to adapt to the current times where climate change exists?’.
These are current times whereby producing efficiently and effectively without either degrading the soil or other natural resources is a problem. Climate smart agriculture-CSA looks at just that, coming up with integrated approaches of preparing the industry for sustainability.
When I was first introduced to the word CSA, I was taken. Taken by the combination of the three words. How can one link smart climate to agriculture? What is smart climate? I thought to myself.
I’ve heard of much more breath taking and exciting words before, but this one really took a huge space of interest in my mind. Weeks went by and it was a matter of time before the word resurfaced again, this time it was during a launch of an agricultural student program that I had attended. I then thought to myself, this is a sign. The Q and A session came, and I saw the chance to ask because personally I found the definition and articles on CSA very confusing because of the complexity of the word.
“Because you touched on climate smart agriculture, can you please explain to me what it is and how it can be implemented during the current times where food security is of alarming importance” I asked. “That’s a good question” she said and as an agricultural student, the inner me leaped for joy because this was proof that I was interested in the right dimensions of my degree.
From the explanation and elaboration, what I grasped is that CSA basically looks at 3 pillars:
1.Food security- which is increasing our food productivity to meet the rising population numbers
2.Adaptation- which is climate change resilience of farmers or human societies
and lastly,
3.Mitigation- which is achieving a reduction in the level of greenhouse emissions
Still confused? Let’s unpack this together. The planets climate is changing, and this is undeniable. It is therefore not a secret that the world is in crisis, population numbers are increasing by the day and food is ridiculously expensive. All of this is influenced by global warming and climate change.
One would be curious as to how the environment is reacting to these changes brought by climate change and global warming? Well, it is not a secret that we constantly have high temperatures and as a result farmers and producers are hit the hardest. I mean it is not difficult to see the linkage between weather and food production. With the aid of government, communities are faced with the job to build resilience and be able to adapt to these changes whilst feeding a growing population without causing damage to the environment.
One cannot mention climate smart agriculture without mentioning the word ‘food security’ and ‘climate change’. It goes without saying, these two, are lovebirds and coexist in one union.
Food for thought, Is climate smart agriculture the new thing?
Banelise Mhlangu
My name is Banelise Mhlangu, and I grew up in the famous town of Pretoria, Mamelodi. I am currently a final year student in the University of Free State and work as a research assistant for the department of Agricultural Economics.
One can never say my name without mentioning how I effortlessly love to laugh and joke around. In my spare time you can either find me reading some of my favourite books, playing soccer, or scrolling through social media and checking what the young farm pioneers are up to. I refuse to go to bed without reading a newspaper article or short paragraph in a book.
My everyday affirmations: If you want something, you go and get it”
