A professor at the BRICS Research Institute in Pretoria, South Africa, Phokela Maponya, has called for greater exchange of agricultural knowledge among BRICS countries to strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate change.
Maponya said effective support for farmers should be anchored on scientific research, including laboratory and field studies as well as socio-economic assessments.
He said member countries should also share successful agricultural practices more actively to enable farmers adopt evidence-based solutions to climate-related challenges.
The professor said South Africa, like other BRICS countries, had different categories of farmers with varying capacities to respond to climate change.
According to him, well-resourced commercial farmers use weather forecasting systems, crop insurance and efficient water management practices to reduce climate risks.
He, however, said smallholder and family farmers with limited resources relied on practical adaptation measures to sustain production.
“Some farmers switch from livestock to crop production, while others adjust their planting dates to adapt to changing weather patterns.
“Others adopt water management strategies such as rainwater and rooftop harvesting.
“These are some of the measures they use to improve resilience to climate variability,” he said.
Maponya said no meaningful intervention could be made in the agricultural sector without a sound scientific foundation.
He said the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) had specialised laboratories where scientists conducted research on crops, pests and diseases to generate practical solutions for farmers.
“You cannot support farmers or communities effectively without research and scientific evidence.
“We also carry out socio-economic assessments because we encourage farmers to produce for the market rather than only for subsistence.
“A large proportion of agricultural produce is lost after harvest. We engage communities, assess their situations and identify existing gaps.
“Some of those gaps relate to training. They must be identified before any intervention or support is provided,” he said.
Maponya said agricultural extension and advisory services were essential for transferring research findings and innovations from research institutions to farming communities.
He added that experts monitored the long-term impact of interventions while farmers
received training, resources and market advice based on research outcomes.
The professor also urged BRICS countries to strengthen collaboration by learning from one another’s agricultural successes.
He said Brazil had made notable progress in food security, adding that such experience could benefit other BRICS members.
Researchers in South Africa are currently studying Russia’s strengths in this field, which was one of the reasons behind the establishment of the BRICS Research Institute. (NAN/TV BRICS)