After decades of mono-cropping and overgrazing, around 65% of Africa’s farmland is now considered unproductive or degraded, leaving more than 270 million people facing chronic hunger. But while there is general agreement that food security is a priority for Africa, how to achieve it is a far more polarised debate.
Summary
After decades of mono-cropping and overgrazing, around 65% of Africa’s farmland is now considered unproductive or degraded, leaving more than 270 million people facing chronic hunger.
In response to these challenges, the African Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit concluded with the Nairobi Declaration, aiming to triple fertilizer usage to restore soil health and boost food production. This initiative seeks to address soil degradation and enhance agricultural productivity across the continent.
The proposed increase in chemical fertilizer use has sparked significant debate. Critics argue that reliance on chemical fertilizers has contributed to soil degradation and environmental harm. The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), representing various civil society groups, advocates for agroecology—a method combining traditional knowledge with scientific research—to improve soil health through bio-fertilizers, reducing dependency on chemical inputs.
The ongoing debates in Africa's agricultural sector highlight a critical crossroads between traditional practices and modern innovations. Balancing the need for increased food production with environmental sustainability remains a complex challenge, necessitating collaborative efforts and context-specific solutions to ensure a resilient and food-secure future for the continent.
Reference
Read more here. See also the TABLE explainer, What is agroecology?
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