View the first part of this video: Water and land degradation, a slumbering giant. In Part 2, Andrew Noble discusses what smallholder farmers can do to prevent water and land degradation.
When we think of farming, an image of farmers tilling soil often comes to mind. Dr. Noble challenges this image by arguing that zero tillage farming can help prevent water and land degradation. Technology such as those used for zero tillage farming are labor saving, cost saving, and good methods for conserving resources. In the face of urbanization, Dr. Noble believes that scaling these conservation approaches may involve larger consolidation of land and the commercialization of farming. There is hope--we do have the technology and approaches to combat water and land degradation. But, we need political will, good policies and a global community to support and sustain these vital natural resources.
For additional information, see the following publications:
Reversing land degradation in the wet tropics
The Nature of Sustainable Agriculture, Chapter 1
Soil acidification and carbon storage in fertilized pastures of Northeast Thailand
About the Interviewee:
Dr. Andrew Noble is a Senior Research Fellow at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Prior to joining the IWMI Headquarter office, Dr. Noble was the Research Programme Manager for the Land and Water Resources program in the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and formerly Regional Director for IWMI for Southeast and Central Asia. His research career in agriculture spans over 30 years and includes research and academic assignments in South Africa, Australia and Southeast and Central Asia.
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