Limpopo Living Landscapes

Sala Alanda Lamega (MSc Agriculture / Soil Science) "Heterogeneity of soil fertility in smallholder farming systems in Limpopo, RSA" February 2018
Thomas Bringhenti (MSc TROPAGS). "Plant species composition and diversity of homegardens in Limpopo, South Africa: describing their status and exploring their determining factors" July 2018
Wiebke Beushausen (MSc TROPAGS). "The role of homegardens in the face of climate variability and their contribution to dietary diversification in rural villages of Limpopo, RSA" August 2018

In the frame of the SPACES-LLL we conducted a third crop modelling course at the University of Limpopo. In total 19 graduate and post-graduate students from the Universities of Limpopo and Venda attended. Prof Reimund Rötter, chair of the Tropical Plant Production and Agricultural Systems Modelling (TROPAGS) at University of Goettingen gave an introduction on the current challenges for crop modelling, followed by a presentation by Dr. Marian Koch on recent advances of spatial application of crop models in Limpopo province. Afterwards Dr. Munir Hoffmann guided the students through exercises using the APSIM model, followed by practical applications of the model in regard to the projects of the students. ‘The workshop was well received and built on previous efforts to establish crop modelling capability of the students within the LLL project’, said the host Prof. Kingsley Ayisi. ‘There is strong demand to further training given the usefulness of crop modelling as teaching and research tool’, added Prof Jude Odhiambo.

We presented a talk to 35 Ka-Ndengeza participants and family, explaining the results from the project so far, including stakeholder meeting feedback, rodent capture, camera trapping and focus group discussion. We also explained feedback in relation to other countries involved in the project. The Community members were overwhelmingly positive about the project and how we involved them in the project.