From ancient fertilizer methods in Zimbabwe to new greenhouse technology in Somalia, farmers across the heavily agriculture-reliant African continent are looking to the past and future to respond to climate change.
Africa, with the world鈥檚 youngest population, faces the worst effects of a warming planet while contributing the least to the problem. Farmers are scrambling to make sure the booming population is fed.
With over 60% of the world鈥檚 uncultivated land, Africa should be able to feed itself, some experts say. And yet three in four people across the continent cannot afford a healthy diet, according to a report last year by the African Union and United Nations agencies. Reasons include conflict and lack of investment.
In Zimbabwe, where the El Nino phenomenon has worsened a drought, small-scale farmer James Tshuma has lost hope of harvesting anything from his fields. It鈥檚 a familiar story in much of the country, where the government has declared a $2 billion state of emergency and millions of people face hunger.
But a patch of green vegetables is thriving in a small garden the 65-year-old Tshuma is keeping alive with homemade organic manure and fertilizer. Previously discarded items have again become priceless.
鈥淭his is how our fathers and forefathers used to feed the earth and themselves before the introduction of chemicals and inorganic fertilizers,鈥� Tshuma said.
He applies livestock droppings, grass, plant residue, remains of small animals, tree leaves and bark, food scraps and other biodegradable items like paper. Even the bones of animals that are dying in increasing numbers due to the drought are burned before being crushed into ash for their calcium.
Climate change is compounding much of sub-Saharan Africa鈥檚 longstanding problem of poor soil fertility, said Wonder Ngezimana, an associate professor of crop science at Zimbabwe鈥檚 Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
鈥淭he combination is forcing people to re-look at how things were done in the past like nutrient recycling, but also blending these with modern methods,鈥� said Ngezimana, whose institution is researching the combination of traditional practices with new technologies.
Apart from being rich in nitrogen, organic fertilizers help increase the soil鈥檚 carbon and ability to retain moisture, Ngezimana said. 鈥淓ven if a farmer puts synthetic fertilizer into the soil, they are likely to suffer the consequences of poor moisture as long as there is a drought,鈥� he said.
Other moves to traditional practices are under way. Drought-resistant millets, sorghum and legumes, staples until the early 20th century when they were overtaken by exotic white corn, have been taking up more land space in recent years.
Leaves of drought-resistant plants that were once a regular dish before being cast off as weeds are returning to dinner tables. They even appear on elite supermarket shelves and are served at classy restaurants, as are millet and sorghum.
This could create markets for the crops even beyond drought years, Ngezimana said.
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A GREENHOUSE REVOLUTION IN SOMALIA
In conflict-prone Somalia in East Africa, greenhouses are changing the way some people live, with shoppers filling up carts with locally produced vegetables and traditionally nomadic pastoralists under pressure to settle down and grow crops.
鈥淭hey are organic, fresh and healthy,鈥� shopper Sucdi Hassan said in the capital, Mogadishu. 鈥淜nowing that they come from our local farms makes us feel secure.鈥�
Her new shopping experience is a sign of relative calm after three decades of conflict and the climate shocks of drought and flooding.
Urban customers are now assured of year-round supplies, with more than 250 greenhouses dotted across Mogadishu and its outskirts producing fruit and vegetables. It is a huge leap.
鈥淚n the past, even basic vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes were imported, causing logistical problems and added expenses,鈥� said Somalia鈥檚 minister of youth and sports, Mohamed Barre.
The greenhouses also create employment in a country where about 75% of the population is people under 30 years old, many of them jobless.
About 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the capital, Mohamed Mahdi, an agriculture graduate, inspected produce in a greenhouse where he works.
鈥淕iven the high unemployment rate, we are grateful for the chance to work in our chosen field of expertise,鈥� the 25-year-old said.
Meanwhile, some pastoralist herders are being forced to change their traditional ways after watching livestock die by the thousands.
鈥淭ransitioning to greenhouse farming provides pastoralists with a more resilient and sustainable livelihood option,鈥� said Mohamed Okash, director of the Institute of Climate and Environment at SIMAD University in Mogadishu.
He called for larger investments in smart farming to combat food insecurity.
A MORE RESILIENT BEAN IN KENYA
In Kenya, a new climate-smart bean variety is bringing hope to farmers in a region that had recorded reduced rainfall in six consecutive rainy seasons.
The variety, called 鈥淣yota鈥� or 鈥渟tar鈥� in Swahili, is the result of a collaboration between scientists from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, the Alliance of Bioversity International and research organization International Center for Tropical Agriculture.
The new bean variety is tailored for Kenya鈥檚 diverse climatic conditions. One focus is to make sure drought doesn鈥檛 kill them off before they have time to flourish.
The bean variety flowers and matures so quickly that it is ready for harvesting by the time rains disappear, said David Karanja, a bean breeder and national coordinator for grains and legumes at KALRO.
Hopes are that these varieties could bolster national bean production. The annual production of 600,000 metric tons falls short of meeting annual demand of 755,000 metric tons, Karanja said.
Farmer Benson Gitonga said his yield and profits are increasing because of the new bean variety. He harvests between nine and 12 bags from an acre of land, up from the previous five to seven bags.
One side benefit of the variety is a breath of fresh air.
鈥淐ustomers particularly appreciate its qualities, as it boasts low flatulence levels, making it an appealing choice,鈥� Gitonga said.
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-Tiro reported from Nairobi, Kenya and Faruk reported from Mogadishu, Somalia.
-Farai Mutsaka, Omar Faruk And Desmond Tiro, The Associated Press
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