MANAGING SOIL FERTILITY FOR ENSURING FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA

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1 MANAGING SOIL FERTILITY FOR ENSURING FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA MARTIN YEMEFACK, PhD IITA-CAMEROON Pass-President of the Africa Soil Science Society (ASSS) Member of ITPS of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) Member of the steering committee of High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition 1

2 OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION Introduction: revisiting the concept of food security Main constraints for achieving food security in africa Potential of Africa for ensuring food security and the conceptual approach to soil conservation Some successful experiences and specific actions for preserving soil productivity in Africa 2

3 The concept of food security and soil fertility Food security is defined (1996 World Food Summit) as access by all people at all times to the food needed for a healthy and active life. Its achievement depends on: (i) ensuring adequacy food availability, (ii) ensuring economic, social access to food (iii) ensuring stability of supply, and (iv) Ensuiring nutritional, sanitary and sociocultural food quality consumption. Soil fertility is the contribution of soil to productivity, referred to as the potential of a given site to produce in abundance, to ensure food availability and stability of supply (conditions for food security). Food security indicators 3

4 Some causes of Food Insecurity (i) Low productivity in agriculture, associated with policy, institutional and technological constraints; (Soils/Land and governance related) (ii) High seasonal and year-to-year variability which is often linked to insufficient water or inadequate water control for crop and livestock production; (Soils/Land,. related) (iii) Scarcity of off-farm employment opportunities; (Governance,. related) (iv) Inadequate and uncertain incomes in both rural and urban areas. (Soils/Land,.. related) 4

5 Main constraints for the achievement of food security in Africa Land: Inherent low fertility of tropical soils Soil degradation and depletion of soil fertility Low level of fertilizers consumption (average of 8 to 10 kg/ha), compared to 150 kg/ha in Asia >16% arable soils has low nutrient reserves Vs 4% in Asia. Water: 93% of the Agriculture depends on rainfall (vulnerability to droughts and disasters) Policies: Lack appropriate governance instrument in the field of economy and policy to improve soil functions related to air, water, environment and life quality. 5

6 Main constraints for the achievement of food security in Africa : Some facts (1) Large areas of most Sub-Saharan African soils have low inherent fertility and do not receive adequate care: An estimated 65% of Africa s agricultural land is affected by a loss of topsoil and soil nutrients Depletion of soil fertility constitutes one of the most important constraints to sustainable agricultural production, causing low per capita food production in Africa. The only continent where the average per capita food production has been consistently falling for the last 40 years, affecting especially resource-poor farmers for their food security and livelihood in rural areas. Africa's population may reach 2.3 billion people (double) over the next 40 years (with a predominance of urban population). 6

7 Soil Fertility & food security in Africa : Some facts (2) Africa still has 15 of the least developed countries, with many hundreds of millions of people facing hunger and poverty. Agriculture currently employs close to 70% of the population with women playing the principal role. Food production must increase to feed this rapidly growing population. Soil nutrients budget deficits (over 700 kg N, 100 kg P and 450 kg K per ha) are reported on over 100 million ha of cropped land in Sub- Saharan Africa. 7

8 Fertilizer consumption in 38 nations of sub- Saharan Africa (FAO- Stat, 2010) Reported maize grain yield levels in selected countries in sub-saharan Africa indicating substantial yield gap between on-farm, station and commercial activities (Bationo et al. 2006) 8

9 Very high diversity of soil types in SSA About 30 WRB soil groups 9

10 Soil Fertility & food security in Africa : Some facts (3) Another major problem for effective utilization of fertilizers and ISFM practices in Africa has been inability to deliver appropriate recommendations and related inputs in the right form to small farmers. Permanent and more productive cultivation systems need a significant increase in the use of extra soil nutrients (300 to 600 kg/ha of NPK & Mg S for food crops) and also Organic and biological fertilization and soil conservation measures (concept of ISFM). Better manage soil organic matter (SOM) through ISFM. Importance of SOM well-known, but the major challenges are in producing sufficient organic materials within the cropping system to maintain or increase SOM. 10

11 Potential for achieving food security Preserving soil fertility and enhancing productivity through appropriate soil management and conservation can play a major role in achieving farm household food security and agricultural development. Since crop nutrient requirements depend on the environment and change with time and intensifying crop production, Possible solutions should be specific to major agro-ecological zones and based on holistic and participatory approaches for soil productivity improvement. 11

12 Integrated Soil fertility restoration & management (ISFM) A conceptual Approach for ensuring Food security in Africa Appropriate SLM policies & SLM technologies Food security Water management and droughts control 12

13 Some successful experiences in the region, In responses to land degradation, a major external impact on land users decisions may come from policies that are conducive to SLM, which also encompass incentives for livelihood security. Current policy responses to the deteriorating state of the land and livelihoods in SSA can be grouped as follows: legal frameworks, conventions, action plans, national strategies, land issues, stimulating sustainable rural economies, and stimulating local empowerment 13

14 Some successful experiences, An array of technologies in agriculture, animal production and forestry is used, many of which are indigenous and occur only in small areas. Moreover, many technologies only address components of SLM and do not necessarily lead to more sustainable systems. While current technologies address SLM to some successful extent, they have not yet bridged the gap between the current situation and a desirable SLMbased alternative situation. Nonetheless, there have been developments in SSA in the field of SLM. Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Africa: Principles, Practices and development Process (TSBF-CIAT) edited by Nteranya Sanginga & Paul Woomer (2009) 14

15 Specific actions for preserving soil productivity in Africa Implementing development projects to scale-up fertility replenishment practices, Developing projects focusing on key bottlenecks such as Organic matter recycling, access to rock phosphate and awareness and knowledge of the technology components, Developing technologies options for integrated soil fertility management, conservation agriculture practices Agro- Ecosystems management approaches to prevent and/or reverse land degradation 15

16 Specific actions for preserving soil productivity in Africa Developing land use policies based on comprehensive land use planning maps and relevant modeling parameters at relevant scales (sub-regional, National and decentralized land use policies formulation) Developing policies that reduce the disparity between world market and the prices paid by African farmers for mineral fertilizers, Investing in community-based development projects that integrate the agriculture, education, and health sectors. 16

17 CONCLUSION Food security is a complex issue touching on various domains and on various components of human society with more incidences on vulnerable population mainly from rural areas. However, Soil productivity remain an important domain from where to explore non traditional areas and to seize new opportunities to contribute to food security achievement in Africa 17

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