conservation agriculture - situation in the world

Rolf DerpschRolf Derpsch, ex , ex Consultant, Asuncion, ParaguayConsultant, Asuncion, Paraguay

rderpsch@quanta.com.pyrderpsch@quanta.com.py

II World Congress on Conservation AgricultureII World Congress on Conservation AgricultureIguassu Falls, Brazil, August 11 Iguassu Falls, Brazil, August 11 –– 15, 200315, 2003

Situation of Conservation Situation of Conservation Agriculture in the WorldAgriculture in the World

José BenitesJosé BenitesFAO, Rome , ItalyFAO, Rome , Italy

jose.benites@faojose.benites@fao.org .org

Conservation Agriculture Conservation Agriculture is “Producing in is “Producing in

Harmony with Nature”Harmony with Nature”

I.I. IntroductionIntroductionWhat is Conservation Agriculture?What is Conservation Agriculture?

II. Expansion of CA in the WorldII. Expansion of CA in the WorldIII. Final remarksIII. Final remarks

Topics

CA aims to conserve, improve and CA aims to conserve, improve and make more efficient use of natural make more efficient use of natural resources through integrated resources through integrated

management of available soil, water management of available soil, water and biological resources combined and biological resources combined with external inputs. It contributes with external inputs. It contributes to environmental conservation as well to environmental conservation as well

as to enhanced and sustained as to enhanced and sustained agricultural production.agricultural production.

What is Conservation Agriculture?

(FAO, 2002)

Conservation Agriculture means a Conservation Agriculture means a complete shift of paradigms and a complete shift of paradigms and a

different “mindset” for different “mindset” for agag. production. . production.

Conservation Agriculture is now Conservation Agriculture is now widely recognized as a viable concept widely recognized as a viable concept

for practising Sustainable for practising Sustainable Agriculture.Agriculture.

CA is a “basket” of agricultural CA is a “basket” of agricultural practices practices –– the farmers choose what the farmers choose what

is “best for them” is “best for them” –– it is not it is not “prescriptive” and it represents “prescriptive” and it represents current “best advice” to achieve current “best advice” to achieve longlong--term land sustainability.term land sustainability.

What is Conservation Agriculture?

(FAO, 2002)

NoNo--tillage, zero tillage, direct tillage, zero tillage, direct seeding, direct drilling, “seeding, direct drilling, “plantio plantio diretodireto” or “” or “siembra directasiembra directa” ” is the most rapidly growing CA is the most rapidly growing CA

practice in the world. practice in the world.

Residue retention distinguishes Residue retention distinguishes Conservation Agriculture from Conservation Agriculture from conventional farming systems, conventional farming systems,

which are characterized by leaving which are characterized by leaving the soil bare and unprotected, the soil bare and unprotected, exposed to climatic agents.exposed to climatic agents.

The soil cover is not incorporated The soil cover is not incorporated into the soil by tillage.into the soil by tillage.

(FAO, 2002)

What are the essential Features of Conservation Agriculture?

• Little or no soil disturbance (Zero Tillage, No-tillage)• No burning• Crop rotation• Utilization of green manure cover crops (GMCC’s)• Permanent soil cover• Integrated disease and pest management • Reduction in the use of agrochemicals

(FAO, 2002)

(Derpsch, 2003)

ZeroTillage

Crop Rotation

Green ManureCover Crops

SustainableAgriculture

Conservation Agriculture is a Holistic System

It does not mean just It does not mean just not tilling the soilnot tilling the soil and and doing everything else the same as before.doing everything else the same as before.

Green Manure Cover Crops and Green Manure Cover Crops and Crop Rotation must be part of the Crop Rotation must be part of the

System!System!

Other elements that should be considered are:• Routine soil inspection and analysis • Fertilization and liming looking at a balanced nutrientand pH status• Utilization beyond annual crops•Fruit trees•Horticultural crops• Forest trees• Efforts have to be made to avoid soil compaction: Useof flotation tires and controlled traffic, precision ag.

(FAO, 2002)

Integration of livestock

Biological soil preparationthrough earthworms, collembolas, insects, etc.

CA takes advantage of biological processes in the s oil

Soil biology is greatly enhanced

Micorrhizas Rhyzobia

CA takes advantage of biological processes in the s oil

But they only work at soil temperatures below 30-35º C

Integrated pest management (IPM)

Biological disease and pest management

According to the authors experience all According to the authors experience all crops can be successfully and crops can be successfully and

economically produced withouth tillage.economically produced withouth tillage.

CA is applicable to all crops

CA is applicable to all farm sizes

No-tillage on big farms with tractors

No-tillage for animal traction

No-tillage in manually operated farms

Expansion of No-tillageSituation of CA in the World

Conservation Agriculture is Conservation Agriculture is experiencing a persistent and experiencing a persistent and steady growth in the world.steady growth in the world.

As you know, the USA is among the As you know, the USA is among the few countries in the world that few countries in the world that conducts surveys on different conducts surveys on different forms of Conservation Tillage. forms of Conservation Tillage.

Information in other parts of the Information in other parts of the world is very scarce or non existent world is very scarce or non existent and is mostly based on estimates.and is mostly based on estimates.

Australia 9.0

Rest of the World 2.3

(Derpsch, 2003)

Canada 4.1USA 22.4

Brazil 17.3Paraguay 1.3Argentina 14.5

Total 72 million ha

AfricaEurope

Asia

Worldwide adoption of No-tillage

0123456789

101112131415161718

Milh

ões

de h

ecta

res

fonte: EMATER RS, EPAGRI-SC, EMATER-PR, CATI-SP, FUNDAÇÃO MS, APDC(CERRADO)

BRASIL - EXPANSÃO DA ÁREA CULTIVADA EM PLANTIO DIRETOSAFRA VERÃO/SAFRINHA/INVERNO

BRASIL 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.03 0.06 0.06 0.05 0.13 0.21 0.23 0.26 0.38 0.50 0.58 0.65 0.73 0.80 0.90 1.00 1.35 2.03 3.00 3.80 5.50 8.85 11.33 13.37 14.97 17.36

72/73 73/74 74/75 75/76 76/77 77/78 78/79 79/80 80/81 81/82 82/83 83/84 84/85 85/86 86/87 87/88 88/89 89/90 90/91 91/92 92/93 93/94 94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01

17,3 Mill. ha

Expansion of the area under NT in Brazil

(FEBRAPDP,2002)

Adoption rates of NT in Brazil14.014.0

11.511.5

7.07.0

3.53.5

002002200219901990

YearYear1980198019701970

Mill. ha

1 million ha

17,3 Mill. ha

3.59

0.99

4.96

1.021.70

4.90

0.20

17.36

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Milh

ões

de h

ecta

res

00/01

Fonte: Emater-RS, Epagri-SC, Emater-PR, Cati-SP, Fundação MS, APDC (Cerrado).

SAFRA VERÃO/SAFRINHA/INVERNO

RS SC PR SP MS CERRADO OUTROS TOTAL

Summer and Winter Crops

17,3

Area under No-tillage in Brazil by StateMillion ha

77/7

878

/86

86/8

787

/88

88/8

989

/90

90/9

191

/92

92/9

393

/94

94/9

595

/96

96/9

797

/98

98/9

999

/00

00/1

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

( AAPRESID, 2003)

7,3

0,50,9

1,82,4 2,9

3,95

9,3

11,7

1977 – 2002 (million ha)

2001

14

1990/91

14,5

2002

Expansion of the area under NT in Argentina

No-Till growth in Paraguay (ha)

(MAG-GTZ Soil Conservation Project, 2002)

1992 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01 020

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400Thousand/ha

Expansion of the area under NT in Paraguay1.3 Mil. ha

1987 1997 20030

5

10

15

20

25

30

MERCOSUR

13.9

18.6

0.67

4.05

USA

33.4

22.4

50 fold incr.

5.5 fold incr.

Million ha

(Derpsch, 2003)

Expansion of the area under No-tillage in the United States compared to MERCOSUR

(Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay).

• Efficient erosion control• Appropriate knowledge available in the region• Use of GMCC’s (organic matter, weed suppression, etc.)

• Only conservation tillage techn. being recommended• Effective farmer to farmer extension, no secrets• Publications with practical information available• Economic studies with system approach available• No mayor forces against the system• Farmers have to be competitive – no subsidies

• Consistent messages by all, no contradictions

Reasons for quick No-till growth in South America

Estimated farmer adoption of no-till in WA

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

NT

farm

er

adop

tion

(%)

Adoption of No-tillage in W. Australia (%)

Area under NT in India & Pakistan

2003 = 560.000 ha

0100020003000400050006000700080009000

92 94 96 98 2000 2002

Area under No-tillage in Switzerland

9.200 ha

(www.no-till.ch).

47.5%

36.7%12.5%

3.3%

USA and Canada

Latin America

Australia

Rest of the World

(Derpsch, 2002)

Percentage of No-tillage adoption in the World

19.7%

80.3%

45.0%

55.0%

NT

Conventional

50.0%

50.0%

60.0%

40.0%ARGENTINA PARAGUAY

USA BRAZIL

Percentage of No-till adoptionin relation to total cultivated area

(Derpsch, 2002)

But only 25% of the area under No-tillage in the USA is permanently under this system. This means that 75% is under rotational tillage.But only 25% of the area under No-tillage in the USA is permanently under this system. This means that 75% is under rotational tillage.

With 22.4 million ha NT USA leads the world.

(CTIC, 2001).

More than 90% of the area under NoMore than 90% of the area under No--tillage tillage in Latin America is permanently not being tilledin Latin America is permanently not being tilled

Brazil

ArgentinaParaguay

34.2 million ha NT

Contrary to this

No-till pioneer Nonô, 27 years continuous NT

Ponta Grossa, Brazil

Rolândia, Brazil, 1972

No-till pioneer H.Bartz 31 years continuous NT

Australia 12.5%

Rest of the World 3.3%

(Derpsch, 2002)

North America &South America

84%

Total 72 million ha

AfricaEurope

Asia

84% of No-tillage is practised in the Americas

No-tillage on Small Farms

2,3006,500Paraguay30,00010,000Bangladesh

100,00045,000Ghana5,50080,000Pakistan

26,000130,000India38,000 173,000BrazilNº of

farmersArea (ha)Country

(Wall, P., 2002)

No-tillage on Small Farms

Brazil 173.000 ha

Paraguay 6,500 ha

Central America + México < 30,000 ha

Other countries:India, PakistanBangladeshNepal 220,000 ha

World total:probably notmore than450,000 ha

Ghana45,000 ha

No-tillage on Small Farms

Final RemarksFinal Remarks

Final Remarks

CA has experienced a high CA has experienced a high rate of diffusion especially in rate of diffusion especially in

North and South AmericaNorth and South America

Ways should be found to make Ways should be found to make permanent cover cropping systems permanent cover cropping systems

and Conservation Agriculture a and Conservation Agriculture a standard praxis in more countries standard praxis in more countries

around the world,around the world,to ensure the sustainability of to ensure the sustainability of

agricultural production.agricultural production.

Past

Future

Conservation Agriculture Conservation Agriculture is “Producing in Harmony is “Producing in Harmony

with Nature”with Nature”

to the benefit of farmers to the benefit of farmers and society as a whole and society as a whole

www.rolf-derpsch.com

Questions, more information?Questions, more information?

Rolf Derpsch Consultant No-tillage and Conservation Agriculture rderpsch@quanta.com.py

The goal, agricultural sustainbility!

GA Corn Eros ion pic

Conservation Agriculturemaintains a permanent or semi-permanent organic soil cover. This can be a growing crop or a dead mulch.

Conservation AgricultureConservation Agriculturemaintains a maintains a permanentpermanent or semior semi--permanent permanent organic soil cover. This can be a growing organic soil cover. This can be a growing crop or a dead mulch.crop or a dead mulch.

Often Conservation Agriculture …

is a question of survival of the farm family

The ultimate in Conservation The ultimate in Conservation Agriculture is the application Agriculture is the application

of noof no--tillage technologytillage technology