Article and photos by Henk Stander
Aquaculture Division, Department of Animal Sciences,
University of Stellenbosch
N
ot only in South Africa,
but all over the world
farming
is
facing
changing demands. The
challenge for a farmer is to respond
to these economic, environmental,
social and welfare issues as well as
the fundamentals of sustainable
agriculture. These changing demands are the result of the continuously growing world population
and the globally increasing demand
for food, feed and renewable energy. They also result from climate
change, which will increasingly
threaten yields in southern countries due to higher temperatures,
lower water availability and the invasion of new pests. In addition,
environmental issues such as the
conservation of biodiversity, the
protection of ground and surface
water and the conservation of soils
are still considered as areas of global concern.
Integrated Farming contributes to
solving these global challenges. It is
a whole farm management system,
which enables the farmers to identify opportunities and threats and act
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accordingly, and, at the same time,
consider consumer interests in their
business. Similarly, Integrated Farming offers the flexibility required to
refine farming practices in accordance with developing government
objectives.
The Integrated Farming concept:
Integrated Farming is not based on
a set of fixed parameters but on
informed management processes.
This knowledge-based flexibility of
Integrated Farming includes attention to detail and managing all resources available in a more sustainable way. The whole process is capable of identifying adverse effects
such as leaching, soil erosion and
damage to habitats and biodiversity
– and of identifying the measures
to reduce or even avoid them. In
animal husbandry, Integrated Farming is an effective tool to maintain
health and welfare of livestock on
the farm, to achieve high quality
and good performance and at the
same time to reduce environmental
impacts. Integrated Farming is a
widely accepted and practical way
forward for the farmers all across
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South Africa. Implementing a holistic integrated management approach, will result in a decision
making framework which results in
ecologically regenerative, economically viable and socially sound management of the world’s agricultural
resources.
Explaining Integrated Farming:
Integrated Farming offers a whole
farm policy and whole systems approach to farm management. The
farmer seeks to provide efficient
and profitable production, which is
economically viable and environmentally responsible, and delivers
safe, wholesome and high quality
food through the efficient management of livestock, forage, fresh produce and arable crops whilst conserving and enhancing the environment.
The need for profitability is at the
core of Integrated Farming. To be
sustainable, the system must be
profitable. Profits generate support
for all the activities outlined in the
Integrated Farming Framework.
Financial support for environmental
and biodiversity activities varies
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