HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — From ancient fertilizer methods in Zimbabwe to new greenhouse technologies in Somalia, farmers across the heavily agriculturally dependent African continent are looking to the past and future to respond to of Climate Change.
Africa, with the youngest population in the world, faces the worst effects of a warming planet while contributing less to the problem. Farmers are struggling to ensure the expanding population is fed.
With more than 60% of the world’s land uncultivated, Africa should be able to feed itself, some experts say. And yet, three in four people across the continent can’t afford a healthy diet, according to a study last year’s report by the African Union and United Nations agencies. Reasons include conflict and lack of investment.
In Zimbabwe, where the El Niño phenomenon a drought worsened, small-scale farmer James Tshuma has given up hope of harvesting anything from his fields. It’s a familiar story across much of the country, where the government has declared a $2 billion state of emergency and millions of people face hunger.
But a patch of green vegetables is thriving in a small vegetable garden that Tshuma, 65, keeps alive with homemade organic compost and fertilizers. Previously discarded items became priceless again.
“This is how our parents and ancestors used to feed the land and themselves before the introduction of chemicals and inorganic fertilizers,” said Tshuma.
It applies livestock excrement, grass, plant waste, small animal remains, tree leaves and bark, food scraps and other biodegradable items like paper. Even the bones of animals that are dying in increasing numbers due to drought they are burned before being turned into ash to obtain calcium.
Climate change is worsening much of sub-Saharan Africa’s long-standing problem of poor soil fertility, said Wonder Ngezimana, associate professor of agricultural sciences at the Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology in Zimbabwe.
“The combination is forcing people to look again at the way things were done in the past, like nutrient recycling, but also to combine it with modern methods,” said Ngezimana, whose institution is researching the combination of traditional practices with new technologies.
In addition to being rich in nitrogen, organic fertilizers help increase soil carbon and the ability to retain moisture, Ngezimana said. “Even if a farmer puts synthetic fertilizer into the soil, he is likely to suffer the consequences of lack of moisture while there is drought,” he said.
Other changes to traditional practices are underway. Drought resistant milletSorghum and legumes, staple foods until the beginning of the 20th century, when they were overtaken by exotic white corn, have occupied more space in recent years.
Leaves from drought-resistant plants that were once a common dish before being discarded as weeds are making a comeback on dinner tables. They even appear on the shelves of elite supermarkets and are served in elegant restaurants, just like corn and sorghum.
This could create markets for crops even after drought years, Ngezimana said.
A GREENHOUSE REVOLUTION IN SOMALIA
In Conflict-prone Somalia In East Africa, greenhouses are changing the way some people live, with shoppers filling their carts with locally produced vegetables and traditionally nomadic herders under pressure to settle down and farm.
“They are organic, fresh and healthy,” said buyer Sucdi Hassan in the capital, Mogadishu. “Knowing they come from our local farms makes us feel safe.”
Your new shopping experience is a sign of relative calm after three decades of conflict and climate shocks. drought and floods.
Urban customers are now assured of year-round supply, with more than 250 greenhouses spread across Mogadishu and surrounding areas producing fruit and vegetables. It’s a huge leap.
“In the past, even basic vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes were imported, causing logistical problems and additional expenses,” said Somali Youth and Sports Minister Mohamed Barre.
Greenhouses also create jobs in a country where around 75% of the population is made up of people under 30, many of whom are unemployed.
About 15 kilometers from the capital, Mohamed Mahdi, a graduate in agriculture, inspected products in a greenhouse where he works.
“Given the high unemployment rate, we are grateful for the opportunity to work in our chosen field of specialization,” said the 25-year-old.
Meanwhile, some herders are being forced to change their traditional ways after seeing their livestock die by the thousands.
“The transition to greenhouse farming provides pastoralists with a more resilient and sustainable livelihood option,” said Mohamed Okash, director of the Climate and Environment Institute at SIMAD University in Mogadishu.
He called for greater investment in smart agriculture to combat food insecurity.
A MORE RESILIENT BEAN IN KENYA
In Kenya, a new climate-smart bean variety is bringing hope to farmers in a region that has seen reduced rainfall in six consecutive rainy seasons.
The variety, called “Nyota” or “star” in Swahili, is the result of a collaboration between scientists from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, the International Bioversity Alliance and the research organization International Center for Tropical Agriculture.
The new bean variety has been adapted to Kenya’s diverse climatic conditions. One focus is making sure drought doesn’t kill them before they have time to bloom.
The bean variety flowers and matures so quickly that it is ready for harvest when the rains disappear, said David Karanja, bean breeder and national grains and pulses coordinator at KALRO.
The hope is that these varieties can reinforce national bean production. The annual production of 600,000 metric tons falls short of meeting the annual demand of 755,000 metric tons, Karanja said.
Farmer Benson Gitonga said his production and profits are increasing due to the new bean variety. He harvests between nine and 12 bags from an acre of land, up from five to seven bags previously.
A side benefit of the variety is a breath of fresh air.
“Customers particularly appreciate its qualities, as it has low levels of flatulence, which makes it an appealing choice,” said Gitonga.
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Tiro reported from Nairobi, Kenya and Faruk reported from Mogadishu, Somalia.
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