Organic farming : the way forward for sustainable agriculture in the Western Cape Province

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The incidence of organic agriculture, seen as the sustainable agriculture of the future, wasinvestigated in the Western Cape Province (WCP). Informationabout organic farms in theWCP was obtained through the Internet, over a period of three months. These farmsoccupy about 33% (771 122 hal of the area within the WCP which is presently being usedfor the cultivation of crops and horticulture. The information obtained with regard to thetype of agriculture and the location thereof was processed and presented graphically.Further, the utilisation of land in the WCP was researched, as well as the problemsexperienced with the degradation thereof. The possibility of making municipalcommonage available to communities and small farmers for sustainable agriculture wasalso investigated.Taking cognisance of the above variables (organic farms, soil quality and municipalcommonage), Go Organics at Spier (GOAS) was investigated as a case study.Recommendation was then made on how organic agriculture in the WCP could bepromoted.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University