soil problems in africa

 

Soil in Africa is being damaged at a rate that may plunge them into chaos, due to farming and climate change, according to a report from Bloomberg News.

“The situation is very severe and soil fertility is declining rapidly,” Jeroen Huising, a scientist who studies soils at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, or CIAT, said today in an interview. “Many countries like Kenya already don’t have enough food to feed their population and soil degradation is worsening an already critical situation.”

In a place where one in three people are ‘chronically’ hungry, any more damage to the weakened agriculture will be deadly.

As a result, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding a project, the African Soil Information Service will use mapping techniques and geographical information systems to help farmers and government officials choose the best options to improve agricultural land and slow the degradation of farmland.  The project will also address climate change issues.

As a result of the already depleted food supply, civil unrest has started.  Food supply workers and food aid convoys have been attacked and people have been killed.  This is why many feel there is an immediate need to fix this problem before it is irreparable.

I bless the rains down in Africa

The United Nations Environment Programme released a report today indicating that new evidence suggests that organic practices – derided by some as a Western lifestyle fad – are delivering sharp increases in yields, improvements in the soil and a boost in the income of Africa’s small farmers.

An analysis of 114 projects in 24 African countries found that yields had more than doubled where organic, or near-organic practices had been used. That increase in yield jumped to 128 per cent in east Africa.

“Organic farming can often lead to polarized views,” said Mr Steiner, a former economist. “With some viewing it as a saviour and others as a niche product or something of a luxury… this report suggests it could make a serious contribution to tackling poverty and food insecurity.”

Because the farmers are saving money on fertilizers, pesticides and by not buying GMO seeds, they have money for themselves. They also are using that surplus in income to buy a variation of seed types, which not only allows for sustainable and local practices, but is also benefiting the soil through crop rotation.

All in all… it’s good!

Click HERE for the article.