East Africa: Climate-Smart Farming Boosting Food Security Around the Globe
In conventional agriculture, the practice is to plough the land and loosen the soil before planting. But agricultural experts are warning against this method, saying that it is not sustainable for the world's burgeoning population -- which the United Nations projects will reach 8.5 billion people by 2030, from 7.3 billion currently -- as it is putting a strain on land resources.
According to experts, when the plough turns the soil, it alters its structure, causing the particles to become loose and weak, and this affects yields. The situation is worsened by the effects of climate change.
In fact, periods of fallow -- which were necessary to allow the soil to regenerate itself before a new crop was planted -- have become non-existent, meaning yields are dropping rapidly.
Photo Credit: Oxfam International