Pacsu Simwaka, Ciara Varley, Angharad Johnston
22nd to 25th July 2024
LEG4DEV PhD researcher Pacsu Simwaka (SLU) recently attended the 9th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture. Pacsu presented his research findings on the potential of Permanent Raised Beds for conservation agriculture in legume farming in Malawi.
The 9th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (CA), organized by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Landbouweekblad, Conservation Agriculture Western Cape, and the African Conservation Tillage Network, took place from the 22nd to 25th of July 2024, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa.
The congress provided a platform for stakeholders in sustainable agriculture to discuss key themes related to conservation agriculture, including innovative cropping systems, tillage practices, nutrient management, soil moisture conservation, greenhouse gas emissions, and pest control strategies. For the LEG4DEV project, the conference offered key insights into best practice for adoption of conservation agriculture principles in legume cultivation.
The congress attracted a diverse audience of farmers, researchers, academics and practitioners engaged in conservation agriculture from around the world. Notable keynote speakers included prominent scientists from the One CGIAR Initiative, including representatives from LEG4DEV partners CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) and SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Science).
Pacsu Simwaka shared his LEG4DEV research “Enhancing Use of Sustainable Tillage Systems under Conservation Agriculture in Malawi” during the poster presentation. The LEG4DEV study, conducted within the Department of Agricultural Research Services in Malawi culminated in the official release of the ‘Permanent Raised Beds (PRBCA)’ or ‘Deep Bed Farming (DBF)’ System. Pacsu’s work presented a comparative analysis of various tillage systems, particularly the implications of combining PRBCA and conventional tillage (CT) practices for improved agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Pacsu’s presentation focused on the critical role of sustainable tillage systems in enhancing agricultural productivity within the context of conservation agriculture in Malawi. The study involved a rigorous comparison of the PRBCA against conventional tillage practices and found the PRBCA (especially when intercropped with legumes such as cowpea and common beans) not only increased crop yields but significantly improved soil moisture retention during drier seasons.
This research addresses the pressing need for sustainable agricultural practices in Malawi, where climate variability poses significant challenges to food security. By demonstrating the efficacy of the PRBCA, the study provides a viable alternative to conventional tillage, as well as strategies for implementing conservation agriculture principles into legume cultivation.
The 9th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture was a fantastic opportunity for LEG4DEV researcher Pacsu to share latest LEG4DEV findings, network and gain insights into cutting-edge research and innovation projects happening in conservation agriculture across Africa. Pacsu’s finding on the use of Permanent Raised Beds as a strategy to integrate conservation agriculture principles into legume cultivation present exciting progress for the LEG4DEV project.
You can explore more LEG4DEV research on our website, and learn about cutting-edge legume research on the LEG4DEV 𝕏 and LinkedIn channels.