Farmer passes through eMalahleni on his 250-day journey to spread soil-saving awareness
According to the Save Soil Movement, globally we are currently losing 75 billion tons of fertile soil every year.
Tseke Nkadimeng (45) is a man on a mission.
Creating awareness for a very good and important cause.
If you’ve been driving around South Africa recently, chances are you have seen him wearing a green T-shirt and walking.
His 10 000km, 250-day journey is almost coming to an end.
Tseke has also been collecting petition signatures from everybody he meets.
On March 17, Tseke passed through our city, spreading awareness along the way.
As a Limpopo-born cattle farmer, Tseke joined the Save Soil Movement. “I thought it is important to get the message right as I can reach more places and more villages and towns and people will see me with my green T-shirt which I have been wearing since I started this journey.”
The initiative started In India originally and inspired Tseke to continue the movement in South Africa. “Obviously as a farmer, I have seen the problem with water and the state of the soil on which we farm. This movement is relevant to us here in Africa. I then said to myself that someone has to do something,” said Tseke.
Tseke says that Save Soil is really an awareness campaign for everybody.
“When we disturb the soil through mining and overproduction it causes the carbon in the soil to go up in the air and then we create a problem. Soil accounts for 40% of the climate problems and we must look after this resource. We can resolve the problem by bringing the carbon back into the soil, making it healthy. Ensuring that the soil has enough organic material for instance so that the soil can soak the water,” Tseke advised.
Tseke also said that this in effect will cause the soil to retain all the needed carbon.
According to the Save Soil Movement, globally we are currently losing 75 billion tons of fertile soil every year.
“If we do not do anything, the soil will become our biggest enemy,” Tseke concluded.
Tsekes’ journey is almost coming to an end when he finishes his 10 000km walk in Johannesburg on April 1.
Tseke said that his journey and how he stays motivated are more psychological than physical.
When asking him what is next he jokingly hesitated and said that he hopes to further the Save Soil Movement in the future.
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