Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) discussed empirical assessments of sub-Saharan Africa’s soil fertility which confirms a significant decline in soil fertility, the progression of which can worsen the food security situation in the region.

The workshop was set up to discuss and develop a joint research project across the region in order to stem the impact of climate change on soil fertility. Organizations represented at the workshop included the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and several universities from the continent.

An initial review was conducted on current soil conditions and land use management in seven African nations including Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, and Tanzania. The results confirmed that the decline in soil fertility and erosion, water scarcity, and inappropriate farming practices are part of the reasons for reduced food production from the region. “Results from the mapping assessment serve as a testimony that majority of countries in Africa need an extensive monitoring program to determine the impact of climate change on soil fertility, soil moisture and land degradation,” said Dr Effiom Oku, Senior Research Fellow at the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA).

Given that there are more than 60 million smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa – a region highly dependent on agriculture – there is a need to urgently remedy the ill effects already caused by climate change. The World Bank estimates that irrigated lands may already be, on average, 7 percent below their potential productivity, while rain-fed crops and range lands are about 14 percent and 45 percent below potential respectively.

Also, soils in sub-Saharan Africa have been found to be low in a number of chemical constituents such as phosphorus, sulphur, magnesium and zinc. Low amounts of soil organic matter (SOM) combined with poor land cover have resulted in poor soil structure, limited rooting depth and susceptibility to accelerated erosion, according to the World Bank.

In developed regions, challenges of this type have been remedied by adopting appropriate management practices hovering around the use of mineral fertilizers to meet plant requirements, and engaging biological processes to optimize nutrient recycling. Experts advocate for a hybrid of both practices which is known as Integrated Nutrition Management (INM). This approach combines mineral fertilizers with organic resources and reduces the risks of acidification, while increasing fertilizer use efficiency and ensuring a balanced diet, as it were, for the plants.

Given the grievous effects of climate change, the entire sub-Saharan region should be looking to engage a concerted effort in redeeming its soil, thus ensuring a continuous supply of food and wealth.

By Emmanuel Iruobe

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