insert_link Africa Malawi farming experiment shows how simple changes can boost maize yields and improve soil By Alan Dixon, University of Worcester Malawi’s increasingly unpredictable rainfall and higher than usual temperatures are causing problems for smallholder farmers. Soil erosion has increased, causing soil fertility and water availability to decline. Crops often fail. Farmers are already struggling financially. Many farm only one crop: maize. They can’t easily afford chemical fertilisers that would boost the soil’s fertility and sustain yields. Agriculture accounts for just […] todayJune 13, 2024 16
insert_link Environment 17 million South Africans live on communal land – new study of a rural valley offers insights on how to manage it Tyhume Valley in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Wonga Masiza, Author provided Wonga Masiza, Agricultural Research Council The Tyhume River, flowing from the forested Amathole Mountains in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, gives its name to a valley of 20 villages on communal land. Much of the land is being used to keep livestock, as crop production has declined over the years. This land is under the custodianship of traditional leaders. […] todayFebruary 14, 2024 8
