by HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) – From ancient methods of fertilization in Zimbabwe to new greenhouse technology in Somalia, farmers across the agriculturally dependent African continent are looking to the past and the future with response to climate change.
Africa, with the world’s youngest population, is facing the worst effects of a warming planet while contributing to the least problem. Farmers are scrambling to ensure that the booming population is sustained.
With more than 60% of the world’s uncultivated land, Africa should be able to feed itself, some experts say. And yet three out of four people across the continent cannot afford healthy food, according to a report by the African Union and United Nations agencies last year. Reasons include conflict and lack of investment.
In Zimbabwe, where the El Nino phenomenon has worsened with drought, small-scale farmer James Tshuma has lost hope of harvesting anything from his fields. It’s a familiar story in much of the country, where the government has declared a $2 billion state of emergency and millions are starving.
But there is a patch of green vegetables flourishing in a small garden that the 65-year-old Tshuma is keeping alive with manure and homemade organic fertiliser. Items that were previously discarded have become valuable again.
“This is how our fathers and ancestors used to feed the world and themselves before the introduction of chemicals and inorganic fertilizers,” said Tshuma.
It works with livestock droppings, grass, plant residues, small animal remains, tree leaves and bark, food scraps and other biodegradable items such as paper. Even the bones of animals dying from the drought are burned before being crushed into ash for their calcium.
Climate change is contributing to much of sub-Saharan Africa’s long-standing problem of poor soil fertility, said Wonder Ngezimana, associate professor of crop science at the Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Zimbabwe.
“The combination forces people to look again at how things were done in the past such as nutrient recycling, but also to blend these with modern methods,” said Ngezimana, whose institute is researching the combination of traditional practices with new technologies.
Apart from being rich in nitrogen, organic fertilizers help increase soil carbon and moisture holding capacity, Ngezimana said. “Even if a farmer puts synthetic fertilizer into the soil, they are likely to suffer the consequences of poor moisture as long as there is a drought,” he said.
Other movements to traditional practices are underway. Millets, sorghum and drought-resistant legumes, staples until the early 20th century when they were joined by exotic white corn, have taken up more land space in recent years.
Leaves of drought-resistant plants that were once a regular dish before being discarded as weeds are returning to dinner tables. They can even be seen on the shelves of elite supermarkets and are served in high-end restaurants, as are millet and sorghum.
This could create markets for the crops even after years of drought, Ngezimana said.
THE SOUTHERN REVOLUTION IN somalia
In conflict-ridden Somalia in East Africa, greenhouses are changing the way some people live, with shopkeepers filling carts with locally produced vegetables and traditionally nomadic pastoralists under pressure to settle down and grow crops.
“They are organic, fresh and healthy,” said shopkeeper Sucdi Hassan in the capital, Mogadishu. “Knowing that they come from our local farms makes us feel secure.”
Her new shopping experience is a sign of relative calm after three decades of conflict and the climatic shocks of drought and floods.
Urban customers are now assured of year-round supplies, with more than 250 greenhouses spread across Mogadishu and its outskirts producing fruit and vegetables. It’s a huge leap.
“In the past, even basic vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes were imported, which created logistical problems and added costs,” said Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Barre.
The greenhouses also create employment in a country where around 75% of the population is under the age of 30, many of them unemployed.
About 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the capital, Mohamed Mahdi, an agriculture graduate, inspected produce in the greenhouses where he works.
“Given the high unemployment rate, we are grateful for the opportunity to work in our chosen field of expertise,” said the 25-year-old.
Meanwhile, some pastoral herders have been forced to change their traditional ways after watching thousands of livestock die.
“Switching to greenhouse farming offers pastoralists 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 more investments in smart farming to combat food insecurity.
CHEAPER BEAN ABROAD
In Kenya, a new variety of climate-smart beans is giving hope to farmers in a region that has recorded reduced rainfall for 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 Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture from the research organization.
The new type of bean has been adapted to the different climatic conditions of Kenya. His sole focus is to ensure that drought does not kill them before they have time to emerge.
The bean variety flowers and matures so quickly that it is ready to harvest by the time the rains subside, said David Karanja, bean breeder and national grain and pulse coordinator at KALRO.
It is hoped that these varieties could strengthen national bean production. The annual production of 600,000 metric tons does not meet the annual demand of 755,000 metric tons, said Karanja.
Farmer Benson Gitonga said his yield and profits are increasing because of the new bean variety. He harvests between nine and 12 bags from an acre of land, up from the previous five to seven bags.
One side benefit of diversity is a breath of fresh air.
“Customers especially appreciate its qualities, as it has low levels of flatulence, which makes it an attractive choice,” said Gitonga.
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Tiro reported from Nairobi, Kenya and Faruk from Mogadishu, Somalia.
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The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. The AP is solely responsible for all matters. Find AP standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and covered areas of funding at AP.org.
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