In the Northern Drakensberg of South Africa, a community-led transformation is taking place through the project “Women and youth led local climate resilience and resource management in the Northern Drakensberg”, implemented by Mahlathini Development Foundation.
As part of the Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project (LLBCP), this replication initiative focuses on improving climate-resilient agriculture and natural resource management across five rural communities in Bergville.
Scaling Up Conservation Agriculture
The project’s regenerative farming component has seen wide participation from smallholder farmers testing conservation agriculture (CA) techniques. These include micro-dosing with fertilizers, reducing herbicide use, intercropping, and, for the first time this season, trials in organic CA methods supported by RegenZ and Zylem.
Farmers compare these new approaches against their traditional practices, enabling participatory learning and gradual integration of regenerative techniques.
96 Farmers Testing and Comparing New Techniques
Across eight villages, 96 participants undertook field trials, including 18 collaboratively managed trials (CMTs) and 78 farmer-managed trials (FMTs). Runoff data collected in three villages showed that CA plots experienced an average 52.6% reduction in surface runoff compared to control plots, indicating improved water retention and erosion control.
This is complemented by small-scale fodder production experiments and early steps toward upland wetland rehabilitation.
Learning Through Exchange and Observation
During a farmer cross-visit organised in early 2025, participants had the opportunity to observe and compare field trials.
Lungile Dladla from Emajwetha shared, “I planted my trial on the 14th of November 2024 with the assistance of the Emajwetha learning group as well as an MDF staff member. The trial is a 1000 m² planted in 4 m strips. It was split in half, one half being the Zylem experiment with Nelson’s Choice Maize and the other the ‘normal’ CA trial with fertilizers and PAN53.”
In Costone, fellow farmer Nothile Zondi remarked, “At first glance you can see that PAN53 is greener and taller than the Zylem maize (CAP341NG); but the Zylem maize is a faster maturing variety, meaning that cob formation and maturation will hopefully happen before the late season rains.”
Monitoring for Climate Resilience
Monitoring efforts throughout the season included visual tracking of germination, crop growth, pest incidence, and water productivity.
Farmers also engaged in peer learning and exchange visits between trial sites, strengthening local capacity and collaboration.
Complementary Work Within the LLBCP Framework
The work in Bergville adds important value to the broader LLBCP framework. While WILDTRUST, another LLBCP partner, implements components in different regions of South Africa, the Mahlathini project offers complementary insights from a distinct geographical and socio-ecological context.
Together, these initiatives contribute to a shared vision of climate adaptation through nature-based solutions, community participation, and knowledge exchange – cornerstones of the Living Lakes Network.
