Conservation agriculture

Agriculture is the primary economic activity and food source for the people living in Cuando Cubango. Rather than wanting communities to change their livelihoods completely, we thought of ways to make agriculture more efficient with less negative environmental impact. Decades of war, the consequent displacement of thousands of people, and the unsustainable use of natural resources have significantly depleted Cuando Cubango’s resources, contributing to food insecurity in the many communities in the province. Climate change has further exacerbated this situation and put additional pressure on natural resources and ecosystems as communities cope with the impact on their crops, reduced water supply, and increased human-wildlife conflict. We are working with communities to find lasting solutions.

We build the communities' capacity in effective conservation agriculture techniques such as basin preparation, mulching, crop rotation, intercropping, selection and use of improved seeds, and organic fertilizer. We also provide communities with the appropriate tools to do so. We also provide training on improving soil capacity and quality and increasing yield.

These techniques allow communities to avoid shifting cultivation (meaning having to move to a new area every couple of years) and slow down the destruction of forests, as the same area can be cultivated for longer because the soil is more resilient. We use indigenous knowledge to dry seeds and use ash as a pesticide, which is organic and easily accessible by the communities. Conservation agriculture is also less labour-intensive, allowing communities to spend time on other activities.