HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — From ancient fertilizer methods in Zimbabwe to new greenhouse technology in Somalia, farmers across the heavily agriculture-dependent African continent are looking to the past and the future to respond climate change.
Africa, with the youngest population in the world, faces the worst effects of a warming planet while contributing the least to the problem. Farmers are trying to make sure the booming population is fed
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 a healthy diet, according to a exhibition last year by African Union and United Nations agencies. Reasons include conflict and lack of investment.
In Zimbabwe, where it has the El Niño phenomenon exacerbated a drought, small 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 facing starvation.
But a patch of green vegetables thrives in a small garden that 65-year-old Tshuma keeps alive with homemade organic manure and compost. Items that were previously discarded have become priceless again.
James Tshuma, a small-scale farmer, shows some of the vegetables he planted in a small garden at his home in Mangwe District, Zimbabwe, Friday, March 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
“This is how our fathers and forefathers used to feed the land and themselves before the introduction of chemical and mineral fertilizers,” said Tshuma.
It applies animal droppings, grass, plant residues, small animal residues, tree leaves and bark, food scraps and other biodegradable items such as paper. Even the bones of animals that are are dying in increasing numbers due to drought they are burned before being crushed to ash for their calcium.
Climate change is exacerbating much of sub-Saharan Africa’s long-standing problem of poor soil fertility, said Wonder Ngezimana, associate professor of crop science at Zimbabwe’s Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
“The combination forces people to look again at how things were done in the past, such as recycling nutrients, but also mixing them with modern methods,” said Ngezimana, whose foundation researches combining traditional practices with new technologies.
James Tshuma, a small-scale farmer, holds some of the plant residues he uses to tend his garden in the Mangwe district of Zimbabwe, Friday, March 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Besides being rich in nitrogen, organic fertilizers help increase soil carbon and moisture holding capacity, Ngezimana said. “Even if a farmer applies synthetic fertilizer to the soil, he is likely to suffer the consequences of poor moisture as long as there is a drought,” he said.
Other moves toward traditional practices are underway. Drought resistant milletsorghum and pulses, staples until the early 20th century when they were overtaken by the exotic white corn, have taken up more space in recent years.
The leaves of drought-tolerant plants that were once standard fare before being discarded as weeds are making a comeback on dinner tables. They even appear on elite supermarket shelves and are served in upscale restaurants, just like millet and sorghum.
This could create markets for the crops even beyond the 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 carts with locally grown vegetables and traditionally nomadic pastoralists under pressure to settle down and grow crops.
“They are organic, fresh and healthy,” said shopper Sucdi Hassan in the capital Mogadishu. “Knowing they come from our local farms gives us a sense of security.”
Her 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 supplies, with more than 250 greenhouses spread across Mogadishu and its environs producing fruit and vegetables. It’s a huge leap.
“In the past, even basic vegetables such as cucumbers and tomatoes were imported, causing logistical problems and additional costs,” said Somalia’s minister of youth and sports, Mohamed Barre.
Greenhouses also create jobs in a country where about 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 at a greenhouse where he works.
“Given the high unemployment rate, we are grateful for the opportunity to work in our chosen area of expertise,” said the 25-year-old.
Meanwhile, some livestock farmers are being forced to change their traditional ways after seeing animals die by the thousands.
“The shift to greenhouse farming provides livestock farmers 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 variety of bean brings hope to farmers in an area that had recorded 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 Animal Research Organisation, the International Bioversity Alliance and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture research organisation.
The new bean variety is adapted to the different climatic conditions of Kenya. One focus is making sure drought doesn’t kill them before they can bloom.
The bean variety flowers and matures so quickly that it is ready to harvest by the time the rains disappear, said David Karanja, bean breeder and national coordinator for grains and pulses at KALRO.
The hope is that these varieties could boost national bean production. Annual production of 600,000 metric tons falls short of annual demand of 755,000 metric tons, Karanja said.
Farmer Benson Gitonga said his yield and profits are increasing because of the new bean variety. It harvests nine to 12 bags from an acre of land, up from the previous five to seven bags.
A secondary benefit of variety is a breath of fresh air.
“Customers highly appreciate its properties as it boasts low levels of flatness, making it an attractive option,” Gitonga said.
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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. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP standards for partnership with charities, list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
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