WeedA B D control Joubert by smallholder farmers in , Province, Weed control by smallholder farmers in Ciskei, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

by A B D Joubert Department of Agronomy, University of , Private Bag X 1314, Alice 5700, South Africa

Abstract Ciskei has a mainly dry or semiarid climate http://www.atnesa.org

with small areas of high rainfall in the central e A literature study was undertaken on the mountain region. From studies of the ‘Derived weeding of maize on smallholder farms in Climatic Zones’ and ‘Pedosystems of Ciskei’ Ciskei, South Africa. Most weeding under these (after Hensley and Laker, 1975a, b) it would conditions is carried out by hand pulling or appear that most of the land area is not suited hand hoeing. Only limited use is made of to rainfed cropping. Average rainfall is animal traction, and large-scale development generally low, and varies from year to year, and of this method will not be possible until the the predominant soil types and general conventional broadcast method of planting topography are not suited to this method of maize has been replaced by row planting. agriculture. Nevertheless, rainfed cropping is practised in most areas by smallholder farmers. Introduction Ciskei is inhabited by the Cape Nguni who are Inadequate weed control is one of the major mainly Xhosa and Mfengu (Steyn, 1988). These causes of poor yields on smallholder farms in are a pastoral and agricultural people: by Ciskei in the Eastern Cape Province of South customary law each householder is entitled to a Africa. According to Marais (1992), “If any residential site as well as an allotment of arable land, and the use of the commonage where

cultural limitation has to be singled out as the . A resource book of the Animal Traction Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (ATNESA). Technical Centre for major cause of poor yields on small farms then there is no restriction on the numbers of stock it is poor weed control’. Most peasant farmers which may be grazed. Grain sorghum was the are aware of the detrimental effects of weeds most important cereal crop at the beginning of but do not have the time or the means to this century but this has largely been control them, especially where the tractorised superseded by maize. Vegetables, in particular mechanisation of plowing activities has resulted cabbage, carrots, pumpkin, beetroot, spinach, in an increased area of land being plowed potatoes, watermelons and onions, are also

(Steyn, 1988): under such circumstances weeds widely grown. Animal power for weed control can rapidly get out of control. This paper Among the there has been a reports the results of a short literature survey traditional division of labour based on gender. into current weed control practices on the maize The men reared and attended the cattle and the lands of smallholder farmers in Ciskei. women looked after household affairs and cultivated the ground (Barrow, 1801; Steyn, 1988). With the advent of the ox plow men Ciskei and its Xhosa people took to tilling the land. However, in recent Ciskei is an elongated area fronting onto the decades man have often been away from the south-east coast of South Africa. Its farms, working as contract labour in the large geographical position is between latitudes 32º cities of South Africa, and in their absence and 32º51¢ south and longitudes 26º20¢ and women have largely taken over the handling of 27º48¢ east. Its western boundary is marked by the cattle and small stock, and now even do the Great Fish and Kat rivers, and the north and most of the plowing. Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), Wageningen, The Netherlands. ISBN 92-9081-136-6. For details of ATNESA and its resource publications se north-east borders by the Black Kei and Klipplaat rivers, respectively; the eastern border Ciskei crop production practices is a winding artificial line reaching the coast Arable land is allotted to members of the south-west of the city of East London (BENSO, community by the chief. Today the plowing, This paper is published in: Starkey P and Simalenga T (eds), 2000. 1981). planting, weeding and harvesting of the crop

214 Note: This version of the paper has been specially prepared for the ATNESA website. Animal Power for Weed Control It may not be identical to the paper appearing in the resource book Weed control by smallholder farmers in Ciskei, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

are carried out by the women. Cultivation Weed control normally begins in September, but can begin in Hoeing and hand weeding are the most August if early rain falls. Agricultural work commonly used methods of weed control in does not follow a fixed timetable. Rather, the Ciskei. progress of the season, as indicated by natural Harvesting phenomena, is traditionally used to decide when each activity should commence (Steyn, 1988). Most smallholder farmers harvest their grain Thus plowing may begin when the call of the crops by hand in June and early July. The grain red chested cuckoo (Phezu-komKhono) is first is then dried and stored before threshing. heard; when the broad leafed ragwort (Indwara) is flowering, it is time to plant maize; when the Control of weeds

http://www.atnesa.org lilac blossom of the wild chestnut (Umbaba)is Effective, safe and economic control of weeds e in profusion, it is time to start weeding; and is essential in any crop production system. In finally, when the star Canopus is visible in the Ciskei, at present, hoeing and hand weeding are southern sky (May), it is time to harvest. the two methods generally used by smallholder farmers. Herbicides are widely used by Plowing commercial farmers elsewhere in South Africa, Plowing in Ciskei is carried out using tractors and Steyn (1988) recommends that their use, (government and privately owned) and with and the economics involved, should be oxen. In areas where moisture and plant investigated as a possible option for nutrients are limiting factors, it is desirable to smallholder agriculture as well. There is also plow as soon as possible after harvesting some limited use of animal traction for weeding (Martin, Leonard and Stampe, 1976), and this in Ciskei. practice is advocated by the Ciskei Department of Agriculture (Bembridge, Steyn and Tuswa, Weed density and time of control 1982). However, few farmers actually plow this Weed density is a major factor affecting the early: most plowing is not done until after the yield of maize in Ciskei, especially as the plant first spring rains, in August and September. population is normally below 15 000 plants per hectare. The number of weed seeds in the soil . A resource book of the Animal Traction Network for EasternPlanting and Southern Africa (ATNESA). Technical Centre for varies from area to area and from season to In Ciskei, where moisture conditions are a season, and the extent to which they are buried limiting factor, Marais (1981) has depends on the quality of plowing. recommended that plant populations for rainfed The critical period for weed competition varies maize should be between 10 000 and 15 000 with crop. Marais (1983) found that the plants per hectare. He has also recommended difference in maize yield between weedy and planting between October and the end of clean plots increased as the fertility level was Animal power for weed control December so as to increase the likelihood of the raised. Field production was proportional to the crop reaching its critical stage of development amount of dry matter produced by the weeds. when environmental conditions are most likely Weeds compete for nutrients more effectively to be favourable. than maize and apart from the direct Although simple and relatively cheap ox-drawn competition they also affect yields by and tractor-drawn planters are available, they temporarily immobilising nutrients and by are not widely used in Ciskei and the old drying out the plow layer. Marais (1983) conventional system of broadcasting seed is still calculated that smallholder farmers could lose used by most smallholder farmers. Some up to 55% of their crop when weeding is farmers plant behind the plow and a few plant delayed until 40 days after emergence, which is by hand, using hoes. normally the case. He based his calculations on the order of yield suppression found in his Use of fertiliser and insect control research and on estimates of conditions of weed

Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), Wageningen,Increasing The Netherlands. ISBN 92-9081-136-6. For details of ATNESA and its resource publications se use is being made of kraal manure infestation and the availability of labour in and fertiliser on smallholder farms in Ciskei Ciskei. According to Harper (1983), crops (Steyn, 1988). In his studies near Peddie, Steyn should generally be kept weed-free for 30–60 (1988) found that control of cutworm and stalk days after planting. This paper is published in: Starkey P and Simalenga T (eds),borer 2000. on maize lands, although recommended, In Ciskei certain weeds are used as herbs and is rarely practised. vegetables. The control of weeds under these

Animal power for weed control Note: This version of the paper has been specially prepared for the ATNESA website. 215 It may not be identical to the paper appearing in the resource book A B D Joubert conditions, which mainly apply to subsistence agricultural power is generally regarded as production systems, tends to complicate the outdated. Animal traction has not, until weed control problem further (Steyn, 1988). recently, been recommended or encouraged.

Hand weeding Crop rotation Hand weeding (pulling or hoeing) is the most One of the major reasons for rotating crops in common means of weed control in Ciskei. Both Ciskei is to disrupt the life-cycle of persistent methods are efficient and practical, little capital pests and diseases by not growing susceptible investment is required and family and local crops for a number of years (Steyn, 1988). labour can be used. However, both methods are Another advantage of this practice is that it backbreaking activities and so weeding is prevents the build-up of weeds, which may generally postponed until weeds are well have adapted to a particular crop. Multiple http://www.atnesa.org e established, which inevitably results in severe cropping systems often include management yield reductions. practices which discourage weed growth, partly The use of a ‘hand wheel hoe’ has been studied due to the different dates of crop maturity and on the Fort Hare University Research Farm. harvest, and partly due to a tendency to provide This implement, comprising a wheel, a frame a canopy over a longer period. and a tine, with a wide sweep attached, can be Crop rotation is not strictly practised in Ciskei, pushed along between two rows of maize, when although farmers are aware of the benefits that the sweep cuts the weed stems just below it offers. The reason for this is that mixed or ground surface. The trash is left to form a intercropping is the more common cropping mulch on the surface. This implement is quite system practised locally (Steyn, 1988). In a effective where weed infestations are light. sense, however, mixed cropping is a form of The main problem with hand hoeing is that crop rotation. labour requirements are high and effectiveness is limited to small areas of 1.5 ha or less Weed control by intercropping (Steyn, 1988). The use of a pair of oxen and a Marais (1987) has shown that yield reduction in Safim cultivator for weed control will increase maize due to competition from weeds is almost the area of effectiveness of a single family to as linearly related to the biomass of weeds . A resource book of the Animal Traction Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (ATNESA). Technical Centre for much as 4 ha (Crossley and Kilgour, 1983). growing in association with the maize, ie, under conditions of severe weed infestation the total Animal-drawn weed control biomass of crops plus weeds tends to be The major constraint to the use of animals as a constant. This indicates that where weeds power source for weeding is the fact that row cannot be controlled by conventional methods, planting of maize is not commonly practised in attempts could be made to replace the weeds with a companion crop. The ideal is for the Ciskei and so inter-row weeding is seldom Animal power for weed control possible. Steyn (1988) found a small number of intercrop to have an economic value, and for it farmers controlling weeds with a pair of yoked not only to replace the weeds completely, but oxen pulling a Safim tined cultivator with wide also to compete less with the main crop than sweeps. Almost all farmers surveyed owned the weeds. and used hand hoes, and some farmers used a Marais (1983) found that maize was most combination of ox-drawn cultivation assisted by sensitive to weed competition during the second hand hoe weeding. month after planting. When weeds were In Ciskei generally, low levels of weed control controlled for the first two months after are the norm because of the heavy reliance on planting only, the yields obtained amounted to hand weeding. If row planting of maize were approximately 90% of those of weed-free maize adopted it would be possible to consider the use crops. This suggests that in applying Marais’ of animal draft to control weeds extensively. findings to intercropping, the intercrop should be established between the maize rows one Oxen are the main source of draft power in Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), Wageningen, The Netherlands. ISBN 92-9081-136-6. For details of ATNESA and its resource publications se Ciskei. Donkeys are used for transport and month after planting, because the tillage could also be adapted to pull weed control required to establish the interplanted crops acts equipment. From personal discussion with as a weed control measure. extension officers in Ciskei it would appear that The type of intercrop selected should be one This paper is published in: Starkey P and Simalenga T (eds), 2000. the use of draft animals as a source of that will act as a smother crop. Two crops,

216 Note: This version of the paper has been specially prepared for the ATNESA website. Animal Power for Weed Control It may not be identical to the paper appearing in the resource book Weed control by smallholder farmers in Ciskei, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

which might be considered are the traditional References African watermelon, Citrullis vulgaris and Barrow J, 1801. An account of travels in the interior of sweet potato. Both these crops are relatively Southern Africa. A Strahan (Printers) for T Cadell drought resistant and will often produce well Junior and W Davies, The Strand, London. p205. even when the maize has succumbed to Bembridge T J, Steyn G J and Tuswa V, 1982. Present drought. land utilization: field crops in the Amatola Basin. University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa. p134. Although intercropping is often discouraged by BENSO, 1981. The Republic of Ciskei: a nation in extension officers, it is fairly widely practised transition. Journal of the Bureau of Economic Research Cooperation and Development (BENSO), in Ciskei (Steyn, 1988). Cropping maize with Pretoria, South Africa. p45. beans, pumpkins and melons are the most Crossley P and Kilgour J, 1983. Small farm mechanisation common intercropping practices at present. for developing countries. John Wiley and Sons,

http://www.atnesa.org Chichester, UK. p61. e Harper F, 1983. Principles of arable crop production. Conclusion Granada Publishing Ltd, London, UK. p208. Timely weed control is essential if smallholder Hensley H and Laker M C, 1975a. Land resources of the farmers in Ciskei are to realise the full yield consolidated Ciskei. University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa. p102. potential of their maize. Hand pulling and Hensley H and Laker M C, 1975b. Agricultural potential hoeing of weeds are well established practices, of Ciskei. Amended Report. University of Fort Hare, which will continue to play an important role Alice, South Africa. p102. on these farms. Marais J N, 1981. Direction for Agronomy. An inaugural lecture given at the University on 9th June 1981. The fact that women are today playing the University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa. p 6. major role in the agriculture of Ciskei, and that Marais J N, 1983. Weed competition in maize with they are burdened with many other reference to peasant farming. Fort Hare Papers. responsibilities, means that smallholder farming University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa. pp 63, 72, 208. communities will derive great benefit from the Marais J N, 1987. Handbook for crop production in development of less arduous and more effective Ciskei. University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa. methods of weed control. Marais J N, 1992. FSR-E Newsletter No. 4, November 1992. Southern African Association for Farming It is clear from the literature study that further Systems Research- Extension, Development Bank of . A resource book of the Animal Traction Network for Easterninvestigation and Southern Africa (ATNESA). Technical Centre for into the use of draft animals for Southern Africa, Halfway House, South Africa. p8. weed control is necessary. If animal-powered Martin J H, Leonard W H and Stampe, 1976. Principles of weed control is to be successful, farmers need field crop production. MacMillan, New York, USA. to be convinced to plant their maize in rows, p 121. and the generally poor image that animal Steyn G J, 1988. A farming systems study of two rural areas in the Peddie district of Ciskei. PhD Thesis, traction currently enjoys in Ciskei needs to be University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa. pp 35, improved. 264, 277–282, 285. Animal power for weed control Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), Wageningen, The Netherlands. ISBN 92-9081-136-6. For details of ATNESA and its resource publications se This paper is published in: Starkey P and Simalenga T (eds), 2000.

Animal power for weed control Note: This version of the paper has been specially prepared for the ATNESA website. 217 It may not be identical to the paper appearing in the resource book