New soil productivity programme launched by FAO for Africa

14 June 2018

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and its Global Soil Partnership have announced new plans to improve soil productivity in Africa and reduce to soil degradation and food insecurity.

The programme, called Afrisoils, aims to increase the soil productivity of 47 African countries by 30% and reduce soil degradation by 25% over the next 10 years.

Over half of the surface area of Africa is desert and 40% of the country is affected by desertification.

In addition, 65% of African farm land is affected by erosion induced losses of topsoil and soil nutrients. Once soil becomes damaged it can be very difficult and expensive to restore it.

The challenges, alongside a growing population, are increasing food insecurity in Africa. Approximately 70% of the population of Africa rely on a limited space and quality of land to grow their food and secure an income.

The new programme hopes to improve lives for those living with food insecurity in Africa.

Rene Castro, FAO’s Assistant Director-General, Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Water Department commented:

“Healthy soil is the foundation of our food system - supporting healthy crops that nourish people”

“Only with sustainable soil management can we achieve agricultural growth, ensure food security and adapt to a changing climate.”

“Afrisoils looks at a mix of soil interventions and the adoption of best sustainable soil management practices, which are focused on increasing the soil organic matter content in African soils to improve soil’s fertility and reduce soil degradation”
The FAO estimates that $50 million is needed to carry out the programme at a large scale for the next ten years.

Ronald Vargas, FAO Land and Water Officer added:

“To render soils highly fertile and in the long term, we need to implement sustainable soil management practices that are of integral nature. We can’t rely only on mineral fertilizers - a common practice around the world - as soil fertility or soil health depends on how we boost the soil system. We need to use smart, long-term solutions that increase soil productivity while safeguarding ecosystem services, and preventing pollution and degradation”

Some of the key programme interventions include: Increasing soil’s organic carbon and organic matter; implementing soil conservation and erosion control measures; curbing deforestation; building famers’ capacity to use and adopt sustainable soil management practices; and supporting the creation of legislation and policy guidelines for sustainable soil management.

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