African experts meet in Kenya to promote sustainable soil management practices

NAIROBI, Dec. 5 — African experts on Tuesday met in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, to promote sustainable soil management practices in the continent. The World Soil Day Conference was attended by more than 100 stakeholders from across Africa composed of senior government officials and scientists to discuss the vital role soil health and management plays in enhancing food production that meets the nutritional needs of Africa’s growing population. Paul Ronoh, principal secretary of Kenya’s State Department of Crop Development and Research, said in his opening remarks that practices such as crop rotation, cover crops and minimum tillage will help the continent return degraded soils back to their original productivity. “Promoting improved soil health through appropriate land use practices is vital for intensification of agriculture production thus enhancing the agricultural sector,” said Ronoh. He noted that Africa’s agricultural sector suffers from low yields due to several factors including poor soil moisture management and excessive soil erosion. Hamadi Boga, vice president in charge of program delivery at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), said that healthy soils with high nutrients and organic matter can reduce the amount of inputs required by farmers to achieve optimal yields. Boga warned that continued use of acidifying fertilizers has led to increased soil acidity of most soils in Africa resulting in loss of soil fertility. Ruth Okowa, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Kenya country director, said that the use of organic fertilizers such as farmyard manure and recycling of crop residues is one avenue for small-scale farmers to boost soil health. She observed that organic agriculture, which omits the reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, can also help Africa keep its soils productive.