#05 2025
By Zanele Ntshidi, Phumudzo Ragimana and Tshililo Ramaswiela, SAEON Arid Lands Node & Arid Region Water Research Centre
In Africa, sustainable agriculture and food security are of utmost importance. NRF-SAEON’s Arid Lands Node organised a National Science Week celebration with Ikhutseng emerging farmers to promote sustainable agricultural practices.
The programme set out to encourage participants to work together in bringing transdisciplinary approaches to tackling global challenges faced by the agricultural sector. Involved in this exercise were researchers from NRF-SAEON (natural science), Sol Plaatje Bachelor of Arts interns from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (social science), Ditshoswane Art Centre (humanities) and emerging local farmers from the Thswaragano Young Farmers Organisation and Magareng Yard Young Farmers Organisation (indigenous knowledge).
In the Northern Cape province, many disadvantaged communities rely on their own agricultural practices to put food on the table. Some emerging farmers plant various crops for consumption, while those with bigger yields find a local market to sell their produce.
At the start of the event, NRF-SAEON introduced the purpose of the day in a talk that covered the role of farming in disadvantaged communities. Scientific devices used to measure leaf gaseous exchange were introduced and the role that science, technology and innovation plays in agricultural water management was discussed. From a social science and humanities perspective, insights into the human dimensions of farming and food systems were explored.
The presenters emphasised that agriculture is not just about food production, but that the humanities play a crucial role in how role-players interact with other role-players and the environment, and how these interactions influence agricultural systems. Emerging farmers shared their indigenous knowledge on the topic, demonstrating their understanding of why certain crops grow in certain climatic conditions and the methods that work for them as they make compost from natural food waste.
Figure 1. Transdisciplinary approach used to tackle agriculture issues, showing NRF-SAEON research, BA graduates (social science perspective), Ditshoswane Art Centre (humanities perspective) and emerging farmers (indigenous knowledge).
To enable the emerging farmers to understand their impact on local rivers and how they can minimise their footprint to protect the environment, a paper-based miniSASS activity was introduced. The team formed groups of threes and fours as they worked on this activity, which primarily focused on investigating the Vaal River and its condition, specifically examining the influence of human activities at two sites. These sites have been investigated using miniSASS in 2015 and 2025.
Paper-based miniSASS breakaway session.
Two groups were provided with a land-use map of their respective sites, macroinvertebrates found at each site, a miniSASS dichotomous key and a worksheet to calculate the miniSASS average score. This was followed by a group discussion centred on using the land-use map to identify potential land uses and other human activities that might be contributing to the ecological category found on their sites.
Paper-based miniSASS feedback session.
After the breakaway sessions, the groups had a chance to report back. This exercise was engaging as different people from different backgrounds showed their understanding of the influence they have on local rivers, whether they are farming or whether they are individuals living upstream or downstream from different pollution sources.
Feedback session from Sol Plaatje graduates.
Arid Lands Node researchers presenting on the ecophysiology of agricultural crops.
The team then went out to the local garden to try out some of the state-of-the-art equipment used in agricultural sciences. They looked at the pH of their soils and soil moisture. This information gives an indication of the readiness of soils to grow plants. The optimal soil pH should be around 6–7 and the soils should have the necessary moisture level for plant growth.
Out in the garden, all participants familiarised themselves with ecophysiological equipment that they were about to test on a lemon tree.
Plant ecophysiology refers to how plants interact with their surroundings. These interactions were assessed using state-of-the-art ecophysiological equipment. To measure plant stomatal conductance, leaf chlorophyll and transpiration, a porofluorometer was used. Plant water stress was measured by means of a pressure chamber, while soil moisture and pH were measured using relevant meters.
Emerging farmers gaining hands-on experience in the use of state-of-the-art ecophysiological equipment.
Exercises undertaken on the day highlighted the importance of empowering communities through research, science, technology and innovation. Local emerging farmers expressed their gratitude for this opportunity and communicated their wish to expand their agricultural fields.
