Asase gyefo – love your land
Welcome to Safisana’s monthly sustainable farming blog curated by farmer and senior agronomist Daniel Larkai. In this episode, Daniel Larkai discusses the cruciality of soil health in West Africa, and how the health of soil contributes to food security and ecosystem stability.
What is Soil Health and Why Does It Matter?
Soil health refers to the ability of the soil to support plant growth, maintain biodiversity, and store nutrients and water effectively. A healthy soil is full of life; microorganisms, earthworms, and organic matter, all working together to provide nutrients for crops.
Declined Soil Health in Tropical Africa
In many parts of tropical Africa, soil health has declined due to:
- Continuous farming without replenishing nutrients
- Deforestation and land degradation
- Soil erosion caused by heavy rains and poor land management
- Excessive use of chemical fertilizers without organic matter replenishment
- Climate change leading to drought and unpredictable rainfall
When soils lose their fertility, farmers struggle to grow enough food, leading to hunger, poverty, and economic hardship. Poor soil health is a major reason why many African farmers face low crop yields.
Why Soil Health Deserves More Attention
Soil health is directly linked to food security, a key goal under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – Zero Hunger. If we do not restore and protect our soils, achieving food security in Africa will be impossible.
Healthy soils:
- Improve crop productivity and ensure enough food is available
- Reduce the need for expensive chemical fertilizers
- Help fight climate change by storing carbon
- Protect water sources by preventing erosion and pollution
How Can We Improve Soil Health?
Farmers, governments, and agricultural experts must take action by:
- Practicing crop rotation to balance soil nutrients
- Use of organic fertilizers like Asase Gyefo Premium Organic Fertilizer and biochar instead of relying only on chemical fertilizers.
- Applying cover crops like mucuna and cowpea to fix nitrogen into the soil with good levels of organic carbon
- Practising minimum tillage to prevent soil disturbance
- Planting trees and grasses along farms to prevent erosion
- Encouraging integrated soil fertility management by combining organic and inorganic inputs judiciously
Sub-Saharan Africa’s efforts to increase crop yields have primarily focused on enhancing soil fertility through the use of chemical fertilizers. However, this approach has often neglected the biological and physical aspects of the soil, resulting in adverse soil reactions that have reduced the effectiveness of chemical fertilizers over time. Therefore, it is time to shift our focus toward improving soil health, promoting sustainable soil fertility and ultimately, greater soil productivity.
To learn more about Daniel’s background, read the interview in our #WeAreSafisana post.
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