Koppen Climate Types of South Africa by Adam Peterson used under CC BY-SA 4.0
During the late 1800's, the most vital element of the south African environment, was the distribution of its rainfall. Throughout the southern region, there have always been changes in the quantity of rainfall. However, the amount of rain has always been more plentiful and reliable in the east. The eastern costal belt (east of the Drakensberg mountains) has relished in a more steady rain, whereas much of the west is desert or semi desert. Without an irrigation system or water conservation projects southern Africa was much drier than one would expect. The quality of the soil in the western half of southern Africa received an adequate amount of rainfall, but could not produce crops due to the pace at which the water evaporated. The eastern region has been covered with a natural forest. However, as years roll by the forests seem to be shrinking and turning into grasslands. There are various reasons for this, including the fact that at this time people typically grew cereal crops, like maize and fonio. The cultivating of cereal crops made it difficult for forests to grow back after a period of farming. On these grasslands, animals were herded. They grazed on pastures in the east, that are said to be 'sweet' and filled with more useful nutritional qualities, in comparison to the rest of the country. The animals that were living in the west or on 'sour' grasses needed to be fed by the sweet grasses during some period of the year, in order to be equipped with the proper supplements and nutrition needed for survival. Again, the inhabitants on the eastern coastal belt are at the advantage. There is no travel required of them to find winter pastures, in order to protect the health of their livestock (Denoon and Neyko, 1989).
Challenges in Agriculture - The Different Environments
Tsetse Fly Inspection Point by Michael Jefferies used under CC BY-NC 2.0
Most of southern Africa is an elevated plateau, also called high tableland. During the winter nights, frost was a normal occurrence and snow was not unusual. Most of the crops that were developed in Africa are adapted to the tropical conditions, so at the southernmost tip of Africa there were various areas that could not support the growing of crops. The major crops included, Because of the cold weather, it was also necessary to protect the animals in the colder parts of the region, by enclosing them in a safe structure that could protect them from the cold weather. On a positive note, this frost killed off a number of plant and animal diseases. These diseases could have potentially endangered different crops and herds, throughout the humid part of the eastern coastal belt. This would have been detrimental to the region, as much of the region's farming is based upon livestock. In Angola specifically, cattle meat was the second largest agricultural product after cassava. According to Donald Deenon and Balam Neyoke, the Tsetse fly was the most likely to cause harm to the different species in southern Africa. The fly thrived in the hot and humid conditions and the movement of wild animals throughout southern Africa complicated the task of isolating diseased animals from healthy herds (Deenon and Neyoke, p. 5). Southern Africa is home to a range of extremely contrasting environments. Each environment has its own individual dangers and circumstances. Just like present day, each region was responsible for gaining the proper knowledge and skills to survive.
Header Photo: Maize Demonstration Plot at Kiboko, Kenya by CIMMYT used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Sources: Denoon, D., & Nyeko, B. (1998). Southern Africa Since 1800. Hong Kong: Longman Group Adekoya, A., Davert, E., Kandy, D., Kane, D., Massey, A., Stone, A. et al. (2011, January). Africa's Indigenous Crops. Retrieved from: http://www.worldwatch.org/system/files/NtP-Africa%27s-Indigenous-Crops.pdf DATE & AUTHOR Climate and Agriculture. Retrieved from: http://www.our-africa.org/angola/climate-agriculture Photographs: Michael, J. (Photographer). (August, 1966). Tsetse Fly Inspection Point. [Digital Image] Retrieved from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogcodes/9488573217 Peterson, Adam. (Photographer). (November, 2016). Koppen Climate Types in South Africa [Digital Image]. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa#/media/File:South_Africa_koppen.svg