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African Soil Sustainability |
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by Ishimwe Eric Josue | 26-12-2018 18:06
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Soil degradation is a major global problem, the effects of which may be felt most strongly in developing countries where large proportions of the population reap their livelihoods directly from the soil. In this review, I will focus on soil degradation in Africa, where declines in crop productivity have been linked to hunger and poverty. While the reality of hunger in Africa is not questionable, the nature and extent of soil degradation, and the role it plays in the vicious cycle of poverty, is still under debate. Across Africa, a large percentage of the population depended on subsistence farming at the end of the last century. Livelihoods are diversifying and urbanization is on the rise, but in the near term, soils in Africa must sustain a largely subsistence population. Actually, sustainable soils should meet the needs of present populations without preventing future generations from meeting their needs. In order to reverse soil degradation, it is critical to understand the factors that affect the stability and resilience of soils. Soils can be altered physically, chemically, or biologically as the result of natural processes. Eventually, soil itself forms over a thousand years through physical and chemical weathering of rocks. Wind erosion shifts the dunes in sparsely vegetated deserts, and transports dust to other continents. Humans, however, are accelerating many of these natural processes, causing the degradation of soils. Physical degradation can occur when excessive soil cultivation breaks down soil aggregates; thus rapidly decomposing organic matter, loosening the soil in excess and making it vulnerable to wind and water erosion. Cultivation on steep slopes, clearing of vegetation, and poorly managed grazing are the primary factors accelerating soil erosion in Africa. High rates of topsoil loss contribute to downstream sedimentation and degradation of local and regional water bodies. The other thing is tenure system which often determines how land is managed and used and thus is often implicated as a primary driver of degradation. For those who have tenure, policies that raise the farm gate prices of commodities are critical means for encouraging good land management strategies since they provide farmers with both resources and incentives. Smallholder farmers in Africa often operate at the economic margin where agricultural investments are a lower household priority than school fees, or medical treatment costs. As I conclude, farmer wealth and ethnicity often determines whether soil degradation can be addressed on the farm. Wealthier farmers, who have more access to resources, are better equipped to cope with soil degradation. Therefore, land management strategies will only be successful if they can adapt to future demands for food and other ecosystem services. Future efforts should be addressing soil degradation in a way that leads to changes in soil ecosystem services, and what land management strategies make systems resilient and, thus, more sustainable. |
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6 Comments
Hello, Ishimwe Eric Josue, My friend
Namaste from Nepal, Country of Mt Everest
I wish for your healthy body, peace mind and happy face in coming days, I wish you always can serve for this beautiful earth,
Happy New Year 2019,
In this Year
Donate Red (Blood)
Spread Green (Plants)
Save Blue (Water)
Thank You so much for your report about African Soil Sustainability, we must stop degradation, we must stop plastic pollution and chemical pollution for that. This is great report.
Keep writing :)
Posted 01-01-2019 17:09
It is true that 'humans, however, are accelerating many of these natural processes, causing the degradation of soils.' And I also think that we cannot define certain type of factors that lead to soil degradation. As Gyeongrin mentor said below, your report clearly states that soil degradation itself is a very complex problem and issue to be explained. The best way to go through it well is to face it with 'natural means' of solutions, rather than using chemical compounds or so.
Thanks for your report!
Posted 31-12-2018 00:00
Hello Ishimwe
'Future efforts should be addressing soil degradation in a way that leads to changes in soil ecosystem services, and what land management strategies make systems resilient and, thus, more sustainable.'
Your report really has good points on the current soil degradation in Africa.
A good method is not simply to be a solution of how technically we can handle the situation but to set a better environment that every actor of the system can actually get access and practice the method.
Thanks for the report :)
Posted 30-12-2018 00:54
Hey there Ishimwe!
Our continent is one of (if not the only) widely resource enriched continent, especially when it comes to land use. For centuries we have relied on small to mass subsistence farming as a form of livelihood and wealth and we still do so today.
The issue of soil degradation comes from the fact that there is no holistic knowledge or background on how to manages soil so as to sustain for future generations. Furthermore, our population is increasing fast and thus more and more farmers are thinking of how to provide sustenance for the following week or the following month instead of thinking in a bilateral manner whereby they think of how the land will provide them the sustenance that they need. This is where our farmers have lost the bigger picture instead of concentrating and putting importance on soil and land which produces the vegetables and fruit they are mostly thinking about the mass of the population that they'll have to feed. This is where GMO induced foods comes from, and this is where insecticides and pesticides also come in, thus further destroying the soils keep ability to produce crops. The issue of tenure should also be integrated with sustainable management policies whereby farmers are allowed to farm (even if its mass production) but they should increasingly focus on sustaining the soil and reviving it after use rather than thinking about the mess profit they will get from the farming.
Small sustenance farmers can also benefit greatly from this tenure system that is integrated with sustainable management because they understand more than anything that apart from their livelihood, soil is their wealth instead of the actual crops that comes from the soil because without it there wouldn't be able to farm and feed their families. The economy also will greatly benefit from including a sustainable development programme coupled with soil remediation because the more the soil is managed in a sustainable manner the better the economy will keep on in a sustainable manner as well.
And that is how Africa can come out of only having one main source of economic production.
Thank you for your report Ishimwe. Your report really made me look at a wider perspective instead of looking at small scale farming I looked at wide scale farming as well and the policies and systems that comes forth in making sure that we as a continent are sustained in terms of crop production.
Have a prosperous New Year and I cannot wait to read more report updates take care!
Yours sincerely
R!
Posted 29-12-2018 01:03
Hi!
I have learned a lot about Africa's economy and its suffering because of its traditional economy, being resistant to change and being less productive because of using the same techniques from the past, especially in the farming and agriculture sectors. Some countries are developed but some still have a traditional economy, those who have suffering economies should accept change and begin to urbanize and use modern technologies to end most of the issues such as poverty and hunger.
Thank you for highlighting the topic of soil degradation in Africa!
Posted 27-12-2018 19:06
Thank you @Ishimwe for describing us the situation of soil degradation status in Africa.
Food insecurity and poverty comes simultaneously when we hear Africa but some countries of Africa are developed and equipped with modern technologies too. It is necessary for Transfer of Technology from developed region to the poor region.
Soil degradation can only be reduced if there farmers are food secured. Economy and soil are directly are directly related to each other. Thank you for highlighting this topic. I will centainly write a report on how soil and farmers economic status and production are related to each other soon. Do read that report too.
Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year and keep writing great reports :) :)
Posted 27-12-2018 04:02