In Africa today, many farmers have abandoned indigenous crop farming in favor of modern crops like maize, rice, and wheat. These crops, not originally African, were introduced after economic revolutions years ago, colonization, and other factors. While there has been significant progress in adopting these crops to align with global agricultural trends, Africa has also faced considerable challenges. The push to cultivate non-native crops has led to poor yields, increased crop diseases, intense competition, over-reliance on chemicals, and declining health among Africans.
This issue is particularly acute in climate change-affected areas, such as Kenya’s ASAL (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands) regions including Northern, Eastern, parts of Coast and parts of Nyanza region in Kenya. Here, farmers struggle to grow water-intensive crops like maize, which falter when rains fail. The mismatch between crop needs and climatic conditions has resulted in disappointing harvests and food insecurity.
To combat these challenges, Africa must embrace crops that are better suited to its diverse soils and climates. By prioritizing indigenous, climate-resilient crops, we can improve yields, reduce dependency on chemicals, and enhance food security. This shift will not only restore agricultural health but also leverage the region’s climatic diversity as a strength, creating a more sustainable and self-reliant food system.
The featured photograph shows a woman sorting green grams in Isiolo County, an ASAL area in Kenya. In collaboration with Waso Green Movement, we are committed to highlighting climate-resilient crops that thrive in these challenging environments, aiming to unleash their full potential and drive agricultural transformation across Africa.
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One Response
It a good and vibrant idea to educate and give our people the best adaptive crops thus increasing productivity and combat food security issues in our country