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Barren soil is starving Africans

Experts call for focus on fertilizing exhausted earth.

African countries must boost the fertility of the soil underfoot if they want to fill empty bellies, said a group of dignitaries gathered in New York City this week.

Read the story here.

Posted by Helen Pearson on March 31, 2006
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Comments

Why don't African nations invest in technologies similar in nature to the self enclosed hydroponic solutions of Organitech?

Posted by: Andre Paris | March 31, 2006 10:30 PM

Improving barren soils needs firstly activities for increasing org. matter. This can be reach naturaly by selecting a diverse native or enven exotic plants to grow, keeping an evergreen soil cover that with their intrinsic traits, while they grow sequestering atmosferic carbon dioxide by photosynthesis, may offer the twin goals: (i)the continuous flux of org. carbon and organic forms of mineral to the soil as a plant litter-down, added with a biologic active chemicals (allelochemicals)from a multiplant source as a specific root exudation and sloughed materials and, (ii)boosting a typical and permanent active plus diversified population of macro and microorganisms which will keep a continuous and efficient process of carbon and nutrient cycling, improving the soil health and asserting sustainability in the agroecosystem

Posted by: João Suzuki | April 1, 2006 02:08 PM

So again some "progressive" protectors and sosio-designer found a way to suck my money and pour them into those hopeless lands???
They are independent for 60 years, they are getting billions of help dollars every year, they are getting tons of ready food every years and still... big NOTHING.

Posted by: Kaz | April 3, 2006 10:29 AM

Many countries are facing the problems associated with increased barren soils. One option, especially where labor is cheap would be to process trash/waste into pellets to be put back into the soil. This has already been done and proven to increase organic content, the ability of the soil to hold moisture, and the growth of native vegetation. Agricultural Research Service, 2005 USA.

Posted by: Wayne Hunter | April 3, 2006 09:57 PM

The experts calling for "build up infrastructure" and "access to local and international markets" should also understand and add to their call that to restore the productivity of African soils not only fertilizers and water are needed, but that the local farmers need to be advised and helped how to accomplish this - best by more and more locally trained soil and crop extension specialists.

Posted by: Dan YAALON | April 4, 2006 03:49 PM

Hemp replenishes nutrients in depleted soil. Ask any cotton farmer. Another reason to repeal the insane anti-marijuana laws world wide.

Posted by: Ron | April 4, 2006 05:01 PM

Yes, this is one of the major expanding problems in the continent. The focus MUST NOT be on selling or donating chemical fertilizers or monster GM crops as these have been to a large extent created the very problem in what used to be fertile lands of my country. The coming submit shall focus on addressing causes of erosion (other than drought!), deforestation and alternatives, and most important the kind of plantation. Most of the trees grown there are convenient for energy source and construction, but extremely bad for the land fertility and crop production. The other point is to make the organic fertilizers(the excess animal waste for e.g.) from the West accessible to the less fertile parts of the globe.

Posted by: Bereket Zekarias | April 4, 2006 07:39 PM

Having lived in Africa for very many years, I keep hearing the same story. When people with foresight get on with farming, as in Zimbabwe up to the 1990s, in spite of droughts and barren soils, crops are so plentiful that they do not only feed the country, but can also be exported. As soon as traditional, mostly shifting agriculture comes back, people starve and complain about soils, climate and weather. White farmers provided 2 million jobs that are now missing in Zimbabwe. Enough of stupid excuse and useless analyses of development aid know-it-alls. You do not need more expertise, only people who get down to doing things instead of thinking and talking.

Posted by: Peter Voigt | April 4, 2006 07:41 PM

Unfortunately it is a case of back to basics.
As well as a requirement to capitaise on saving water, also a specialised fertiliser regime is required. One that is soil and farmer friendly, as a Glenside and Law agent I can supply further information. Having worked in Middle East, Australia, Libya I mhave a reasonable knowledge of the problems.

Regards Michael

Posted by: Michael Dunn | April 5, 2006 10:34 AM

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