Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa

FarmSahel • Aug 15, 2020

Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is over 1.33 billion, which is roughly 17% of the world’s total population. Of this 1.33 billion, 61% of the Sub-Saharan population is involved in agriculture directly or indirectly. By 2050, the population is expected to double- this will lead to an unproportionate amount of the population under the age of 25. This means that the food supply will need to exceed double in order to feed a primarily young population.

Overall, the region contains 2455 million hectares of land; of this, about only 174 million hectares are cultivated for annual and perennial crops. This is approximately ¼ of the region’s true potential. Of the total arable land in Sub-Saharan Africa, arid and semiarid agricultural regions compose 43%.

Despite the richness in natural resources, there seems to be a huge gap between food production and consumption patterns. The region has to rely on importing crops such as rice, maize and wheat to meet its own local food needs. Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest per hectare yield of major cereal crops despite the several farming systems that have been implemented. These systems have certain limitations that need critical attention by their local governments, as well as relevant organizations, in order to benefit the farmers as well as their respective countries and people.

Irrigated Farming

The irrigated farming system in Sub-Saharan African consists of irrigation schemes that cover about 35 million hectares of land- within this area exists a population of over 7 million people. The average farm here varies from 1 hectare of land to 22 hectares of land per family. Additional irrigation is derived from rainfall, which families are very dependent upon. Crop failures in this area are minimum, but the farmer’s income is subjected to water scarcity. Thus, livelihoods are vulnerable to water shortages, as well as scheme itemizations, and flagging input and output prices. Multiple schemes are wearing out due to excessive institutional documentation and local distortions. However, with the right amount of attention and priority, water scarcity can be resolved to drastically boost agricultural production.

Trees & Crops Interculture

Intercultural tree and crop practices are observed in the humid areas of Western and Central Africa. Almost 73 million hectares, and a population of 25 million people, depend on these practices. However, only 100 thousand hectares are irrigated out of 10 million hectares of cultivated area.

The dominant tree crops include rubber, cocoa, oil palm and coffee while the intercrops include legumes, cassava and various vegetables. Mainly, both of these types of crops rely on rain-harvest water and direct precipitation. Inter-cultured crops are dealt with as cash crops to meet routine living expenses.

Cereal-Root Crop Mixed Farming

Cereal-root crop mixed farming is practiced in regions of Southern and Central Africa, as well as both dry and sub-humid regions of Western Africa. This covers about 315 million hectares, with a population over 59 million in these regions. Approximately 42 million cattle heads are raised in these areas. Out of the 31 million hectares of cultivated area, only 400 thousand hectares get irrigation from multiple irrigation systems.

Common cereals include sorghum, maize, millets as well as the root crops yam and cassava. Intercropping patterns and rotations bring multiple sources of income for farmers. Maize, sorghum and millet are widely cultivated, but it is the root crops that bring instant cash. They can be immediately sold in local markets. Intercropping is a routine practice that strengthens this particular farming system, due to these crops’ significance worldwide.

Drought is a major problem for crop mixed farming and can severely limit overall crops under yield potential. Strengthening this system may lead to a strong boost of agriculture production in the area and add a significant amount to the gross income of farmers.

Maize Mixed Farming

Maize mixed farming is mostly adapted to Southern and Eastern Africa and extends across plateaus as well as higher altitudes ranging between 800 to 1500 meters above sea level. This area covers about 246 million hectares, with a population of 60 million. Out of this area, only 32 million hectares are cultivated for use.

The primary farming income is from maize, the main staple of food. Livestock also contribute greatly to the daily living of the agricultural community. Cotton, coffee and tobacco are common cash crops.

The high prices and scarcity of agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and farming equipment are all potential threats to meet the yield potential of maize crops in these areas. Drought mixed with the volatility of agricultural input prices is a major constraint for the agricultural community here. Otherwise, the growth opportunities are countless for local farmers, as well as Sub-Saharan and international investors.

Agro-Pastoral Farming

This farming system relies on livestock farming, primarily in arid and semiarid parts of Southern and Eastern Africa, as well as semiarid Western Africa. Only 22 million hectares of cultivated land are used for agro-pastoral farming; due to the limited availability of cultivated land in these areas, there is often a scarcity in food production.

The overall area consists of 198 million hectares, where crops can be as equally important as livestock. Small farmers will generate earnings through pulses and sesame, while stable crops like pearl millets and sorghum are the major food source.

The main issue is water scarcity for over 25 million cattle heads, on 22 million hectares of rain-fed agriculture.

Types of Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

Irrigated Crops : Rice, Maize, Wheat, Vegetables, Banana, Sweet Potato, Sunflower, Coconut, Potato, Enset and Cassava

Cereal Crops : Wheat, Rice, Barley, Sorghum, Maize and Pearl Millets

Tree Crops : Date Palms, Cocoa, Coffee, Palm and Rubber

Root Crops : Yam, Sweet Potato and Cassava

Vegetable and Herb Crops : Beans, Plantain, Peanut, Peppers, Eggplant, Cucumber, Rooibos, Devil’s Claw, Buchu, Cape Aloe and Hoodia

Cash Crops : Tef, Legumes, Tobacco, Cotton, Cocoa, Lentils, Cashew and Vegetables

Potential Threats and Strategic Priorities for Sub-Saharan Africa

Water Shortages

Sub-Saharan Africa consists of an extensive nature of farming systems, and there is a significant chance for further improvement in terms of yield potential. Only 6% of arable lands are irrigated here; compare this to Asia, where this ration stands at 40%. Additional optimization of water resources along with prospecting water-saving irrigation practices such as drip irrigation, sprinklers and hydrophonics would lead to boosting yield potential of all farming systems in use. If Sub-Saharan Africa manufactured local irrigation systems, the prices could potentially be 1/3 of the imported systems.

Agricultural Inputs

The majority of the farmers are smallholders, where sustainable agriculture intensification would trigger production. Easing and increasing access to agriculture inputs through government intervention, such as subsidies, before sowing season will lighten the burden on farmers along with controlling the prices of seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and farm equipment. Adoption of precise and innovative technologies would be a terrific milestone for farmworkers as to ease operations on smaller farms.

Diseases and Pests

Diseases are unfortunately a major threat for African farmers; some diseases are native to the region, while others are either seeds born or brought through imported goods from different sources of origin due to weak quarantine laws. Similarly, more than 50 insect pest species are invasive to African climates, such as the melon fly, the green citrus aphid and the fall armyworm. Farmers require interactive training on how pests damage crops, how to identify them and control them using precise doses of insecticides. On the other hand, authorities should be required to observe stricter quarantine laws while importing seeds and seedlings for planting and food for local consumption.

Market Accessibility

Supply chains in Sub-Saharan African agriculture normally do not exist or are very fragmented if they do. This can be observed for farm productions as well for farming inputs. Farmers pay multiple commissions to intermediaries until the production reaches end-users; inputs reach farmers after 3 to 4 hand changes, which ultimately adds 2 to 3 folds to its source price. Generally, 50% or more markups are added by functional intermediaries working as dealers, vendors and distributors. An effective supply chain could benefit farmers in purchasing inputs at fair prices, along with disposing their produce at competitive rates in the market. This is possible through community-based e-commerce or motivating farmers to develop aggregator economic models in the region.

The copiousness of natural possessions in the region guarantees a projection in the agricultural development, provided that incentive-based schemes are launched within small farm holders to boost national production levels. The phenomenon of Farmer’s Field School can lead to developing an interactive approach to learn technologies and innovations with the collaboration of International Agriculture Input Manufacturer; this will allow all efforts and work to be made in the best interest of their respective regions.

Updates: News & Stories

By Madjalia Seynou 21 Jun, 2023
Dear Donors, We wanted to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your generous contributions towards digging a water well for the women farmers of Simbri village in Bindé. Your support has truly made a significant impact on the lives of these hardworking individuals and their entire community. Thanks to your donations, the women farmers now have access to clean drinking water, which is essential for their health and well-being. Moreover, the availability of irrigation systems will enable them to cultivate off-season vegetables, enhancing their crop yields and livelihoods. Your compassionate act has empowered these women to achieve sustainable farming practices and secure a brighter future for themselves and their families. We cannot emphasize enough the profound difference your donations have made. Through your kindness and generosity, you have brought hope and positive change to a community that greatly needed it. Your belief in our cause and your willingness to contribute have truly touched our hearts. On behalf of the women farmers of Simbri village, we extend our heartfelt appreciation for your support. Your kindness and empathy have inspired us to continue working tirelessly to improve the lives of those in need. We will keep you updated on the progress of the water well project and its impact on the community. Once again, thank you for your incredible generosity and for being champions of positive change. Your support has made a lasting difference, and we are forever grateful. With sincere gratitude, Madjalia Seynou Executive Director FarmSahel
By Joe Marrone 09 Feb, 2023
In late 2022 Burkina Faso was one of the western Sahel countries to receive an onslaught of heavy and unpredictable rain. From June to October of 2022, over 800 people died, and flooding destroyed millions of hectares of farmland. Human-caused climate change made the 2022 wet season 20% more severe, exacerbating the chronic food security crisis facing Burkina Faso and the Sahel. Crops in most of the Western Sahel received 40% less water than needed. As a result, in Burkina Faso, crop production dropped by 10% compared to the previous five-year average. Food prices rose significantly due to a low harvest and a lack of imports hampered by the war in Ukraine. Experts wanted to find a link between the 2021 drought and the 2022 deadly rainfall in the Sahel. Unfortunately, it was impossible to detect trends or plan preventative measures due to a lack of weather instruments. Now Burkina Faso is modernizing its technology to track and predict the weather as the onslaught of climate change continues. The European Union funded a pilot program called ClimSA which started in Burkina Faso and is now moving to 17 other West African countries. This program allows countries like Burkina Faso to better predict and track weather. Over 300 stations across Burkina Faso take measurements of temperature, precipitation, humidity, radiation levels, and atmospheric pressure. With this information, trained Burkinabe meteorologists can refine forecasts and monitor the impact of climate change. Weather stations and weather prediction systems were severely lacking across the entire continent of Africa. From 1990 to 2019, Africa received only 3.5% of global funding for climate research. Now, with the ClimSA program, meteorologists are able to communicate better with the general public. In Burkina Faso, agricultural bulletins are sent to local radio stations in eight different languages with specialized weather reports. With over 900,000 daily listeners, farmers are taking advantage of the new information. They are able to know when to plant and listen to seasonal weather forecasts. The meteorologists also use the large radio audience to explain to farmers how to improve yields, manage water, and refresh degraded soil. The information collected has shown that there has been a steady increase in temperatures in Burkina Faso over the years. Rainfall is coming late in the season and only as heavy and destructive downpours. As meteorologists were setting up the new advanced weather systems across Burkina Faso, in Egypt, a breakthrough was made at COP27. The United Nations Climate Change conference provided an agreement called "loss and damage," which plans to fund vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters. The governments involved in creating the agreement will establish a transitional committee to make recommendations on funding arrangements at COP28. This committee's first meeting will be in March of 2023. For the globe to transition into a low-carbon economy, it is estimated to cost between $4 to $6 trillion a year. Activists continue to worry about the promise of change, but the lack of action as developed countries have not yet met the $100 billion per year by 2020 as promised. The new loss and damage fund will help countries like Burkina Faso continue to mitigate climate change disasters. ClimSA is another tool that will be life-saving to farmers and rural Burkinabe people who may be in a storm's path. But, unfortunately, developed countries need to do more not only to finance but to transition into a zero-carbon economy. https://unfccc.int/news/cop27-reaches-breakthrough-agreement-on-new-loss-and-damage-fund-for-vulnerable-countries https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2022/11/09/cop27-burkina-faso-uses-improved-methods-to-predict-rainfall-and-extreme-weather-events_6003529_124.html https://www.carbonbrief.org/west-africas-deadly-rainfall-in-2022-made-80-times-more-likely-by-climate-change/
By Joe Marrone 05 Feb, 2023
Burkina Faso in the 1980s, then called Upper Volta, was bursting at the seams. An infant country exploited by western colonizers, the new people in power were trying to navigate the difficulty of leading. Then in 1983, with the Burkinabe people suffering, the young former Prime Minister, Thomas Sankara, became president after a popularly-supported coup. At just 33 years old, Sankara had big ideas and understood the everyday struggle of the Burkinabe people. He changed the country’s name from its colonial name to Burkina Faso, meaning the Land of Incorruptible People. He immediately launched programs that focused on bettering the country for every citizen, from the cities to the rural farmland. President Sankara focused on self-sufficiency for Burkina Faso to prevent famine. He constructed a nationwide literary campaign as his government built schools nationwide. Sankara protected children, advancing vaccine drives and building health centers. While Sankara was in office, he organized infrastructure that helped vaccinate more than two million children against meningitis, yellow fever, and measles. Sankara also ordered the construction of over 100 km of rail line. He knew of Burkina Faso’s water difficulties at the time and was able to raise total cereal production by 75% by building water reservoirs and redistributing private land to the poor. Sankara was ahead of his time, seeing the desertification of the Sahel and developing a plan to plant 10 million trees to combat it. Additionally, Sankara was against all forms of imperialism, including aid. He rejected aid from the international monetary fund, which forces countries to enact certain policies which have been shown to be detrimental to the long-term viability of the economy. President Sankara completed many of these programs, which benefited the everyday Burkinabe through little to no outside funding. Unfortunately, Sankara was not able to continue his vision of a healthy and prosperous Burkina Faso. His life was horrifically cut short in an October 1987 assassination. Blaise Compaore took over leadership in a coup d’état. However, Sankara’s idea and spirit still lives on in the soul of Burkina Faso and in the minds of every small farmer working to feed their family. They have been waiting for another young imaginative leader to focus on the families suffering the most. That hope came alive in October 20222 when Ibrahim Traore became president of Burkina Faso through a military coup. Only 34 years old, this young army captain has been inspired by the ideals Thomas Sankara left behind. Already, President Traore is focusing on the everyday people of Burkina Faso, giving them hope that the course of the country can change. Since taking office, President Traore has outlined a comprehensive plan for farmers to revive irrigated agriculture. He understands the national security situation and is working to increase the productivity of irrigated areas by at least 50%. He is also making agricultural equipment available to farmers at subsidized prices. One of his biggest domestic drives is his vaccination drive, not for people, but for animals. His government is hoping to vaccinate over 32 million poultry, 6.5 million cattle, and 14 million small ruminants. Protecting livestock against deadly contagious diseases and giving families more security over their farm and their food. President Traore has already secured over 2 million francs in funding for the undertaking. The new government is committed to bringing sustainable food and nutritional security to Burkina Faso. For many everyday Burkinabe people desperate for stability, President Traore is their only hope. As the ideals of Thomas Sankara echo through the cities and the rural plains of Burkina Faso, public cooperation will be the way forward for the country. Not one person can drive change, as Sankara said, “We must dare to invent the future.” https://www.agriculture.bf/jcms/pv10_104791/fr/campagne-agropastorale-de-saison-seche-une-batterie-de-mesures-pour-l-intensification-de-l-agriculture-irriguee-et-la-protection-sanitaire-du-cheptel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sankara
By Joe Marrone 24 Sep, 2022
Africa is a beautiful country that has seen absolute horrors entirely out of her control. Africa’s vast and diverse wilderness is breathtaking but disappearing, and her population is growing but unstable. Yet, through all the hardships faced on the continent, the everyday people of Africa have shown their resilience and ability to keep looking forward, not giving up no matter the difficulties they face. As FarmSahel continues to help the everyday rural farmers of Burkina Faso, we must remember the dedication Burkinabe people have not to allow their uncontrollable situation stop them from achieving greatness.
By Joe Marrone 26 Aug, 2022
Evolutionary history constantly changes as scientists find new fossil records and archeologists reinterpret old evidence. Although, what has remained true is modern humans’ first continent, Africa. It is here that the entire world as we know it started. Ninety thousand years ago, the first people migrated out of Africa to explore a new world and create new cultures, languages, and technologies. One of these developments was one that completely changed the way humans lived, domestication. As hunter-gatherers, humans migrated alongside their food. They had no permanent settlements, and everyone worked together to feed their small tribe. Eventually, agriculture started to seep into the lives of people. The exact time and way ancient humans first domesticated plants and animals is still not known. Archaeologists believed that once a tribe learned about agriculture, they switched entirely and that this way of life spread worldwide, hence the name agricultural revolution. However, recently this theory has been disproven. Some tribes in Africa kept to their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, while others took a hybrid approach. Archeological records also indicate that humans discovered agriculture around the late stone age when people carved stones into specific shapes for weapons and tools. Another misconception many people have is that the discovery of agricultural production happened in one place. In reality, cultures worldwide discovered domestication in multiple places, but the exact process of how it came about will never be known. However, archeologists and historians have a consensus on the most likely way plant and animal domestication was discovered. It is believed that the gatherers of the tribe started to protect certain crops, mostly cereals like sorghum and millets. People would protect the crops by weeding and resowing their seeds. Gatherers soon found that resowing healthier crops produced better crops the following year. True domestication came when a family of crops became dependent on human intervention. As the years went by, the plant would no longer be able to compete with weeds but would produce a much higher yield. The same process took place with the domestication of wild animals. Again, the members of the tribe would protect the healthier wild animals. The animals would be herded together and brought to better grazing sites to increase their size. Larger animals produced more milk and meat, but the animals now required human assistance to survive. The agricultural revolution was long and drawn out, but its impacts changed humans’ entire understanding of the world! People around the world and in Africa started settling. Instead of makeshift shelters, people began to use mud, thatch, and even stones to create permanent housing. With the rise of agriculture, people began to develop better tools, use them, and be able to store them. They were no longer restricted to only taking what they could carry on their backs. Even more importantly, as people began settling in fertile regions and having a reliable food source, they had more children. Once seen as a burden to carry and care for, the entire family helped raise newborn babies. They would soon be in the fields helping their family with the harvest. Families also gained access to a surplus. If families were able to produce more than they could consume, they would have food security through bad harvests or severe weather. They would also be able to trade with artisans for other goods. Agriculture completely changed the way human beings interacted with their environment. They no longer lived in harmony with nature, migrating with the weather and animals. This surplus quickly started to create classes between rich and poor. However, this change was much more gradual than recently believed. Many early farming communities still relied heavily on hunting. Some communities simply domesticated animals, migrating to the best feeding spots every season. Archaeologists believe that most of Africa’s traditional religions gained a spiritual element during the agricultural revolution. People now had to rely on the weather and the varying climate. This brought about prayers for rain, fertility, and a good harvest. Plant and animal domestication was a long and slow process but soon took over every corner of the world. It became embedded in ancient people’s lifestyles and religions. The agricultural revolution was a significant turning point in the history of homo sapiens. We still rely heavily on farm production, and FarmSahel is working to ensure farmers can produce crops for generations. Shillington, Kevin. History of Africa. Fourth ed., Red Globe Press, 2019.
By Joe Marrone 08 Aug, 2022
On August 5th, Burkina Faso celebrated its 62nd Independence Day! Colonial rule was brutal to the African people, and it decimated cultures. Luckily, the people of Burkina Faso stood tall against French rule and are still able to practice those ancient traditions that their ancestors participated in generations ago. It wasn’t until Thomas Sankara took power in 1983 in a bloodless coup when The Republic of Upper Volta officially became Burkina Faso. Sankara chose the name Burkina Faso from two of the country’s most common languages. As an attempt to drive away corruption and gain greater autonomy from foreign influence, the name roughly translates to ‘Land of Honest People.’ Unfortunately, the political situation of Burkina Faso has not improved with continued coups, violence, and poverty. However, the Burkinabe people have never waivered and continue practicing their traditional culture, especially in rural areas. While French is the official language of Burkina Faso, there are over 70 languages throughout the country, 60 of which are indigenous to the region. Each of these languages has its own myths, spiritual traditions, and cultures which survived the onslaught of western colonization. Overall, the traditional beliefs of many indigenous cultures differ from western cultures. Burkina Faso’s traditional ideas focus on an inter-dependence between communities and living in harmony with nature. Traditional culture focuses on living well, not living better, which helps deter conflict between ethnic groups. With such deep roots in traditional culture, Burkina Faso is rich in music, clothing, and rituals. Traditional music often consisted of drums, flutes, and stringed instruments. In addition, in the west of the country, an instrument called the balophon is made with dried gourds. Dancers usually accompany music in colorful costumes. Music is such an important aspect of traditional culture that Burkina Faso holds a biennial festival called the International Festival of Masks and the Arts or FESTIMA. The International Festival of Masks and the Arts started in 1996 and occurs every other year, falling on even years. The fifteenth festival took place in early March 2020 and lasted several days. The festival is held in Burkina Faso, the most recent in Bankuy. Thousands of people come to see dancers in traditional clothes and masks perform ancient rituals from west African countries. There is usually a translator at the festival to help interpret the dance being performed. While music and dance are integral to the traditional culture of Burkina Faso, this festival focuses on the protection of Masks that are very important to the Mossi ethnic group. The Mossi are the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso, accounting for about 52% of the population. The ancient Mossi empire controlled a large portion of the center of Upper Volta. The Nyonyose, farmers and spiritual segments of ancient Mossi culture, used masks in rituals and religious observances. Archaeologists found that the Mossi primarily used masks at burials, especially for leading elders and chiefs. Rituals would be performed continuously after an elder had died since elders had the most respect in the Mossi hierarchical system. It is believed that Masks allowed the spirit to pass into the world of ancestors. It is believed without a proper funeral the spirit would cause trouble for their descendants. Thick, vibrant costumes accompanied masks. Masks are still sacred in many traditional parts of Burkina Faso and are seen as a link to spirits and nature. These traditional parts of Burkina Faso are usually rural regions. They have relied on oral tradition to pass down poems, folk tales, songs, and more. It wasn’t until late into colonization that written literature came to the Burkinabe people, some of whom started to write down oral stories, mostly from the Mossi ethnic group. While cultural tradition and language have survived colonial rule, new problems are bringing Burkina Faso’s rich culture into demise. Most notably, young people are flocking to cities to find higher-paying jobs. These cities do not follow the traditional culture and are much more westernized. Second, the noble aspects of traditional Burkina Faso culture are disappearing as life becomes more difficult for the rural population. Third, climate change, internally displaced people, and terrorism forced some groups to have forgotten about living well and in harmony with nature. FarmSahel hopes to continue or bring back that ancient tradition of living in harmony with nature. Our programs are designed to help mitigate the effect of climate change, allow villages to better absorb the impact of migrants, and bring harmony back between the agriculturalists and their land. https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2016/3/13/in-burkina-faso-festima-a-festival-of-african-masks https://www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/africa/burkina-faso/history-and-culture https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossi_people#:~:text=The%20Mossi)%20are%20a%20Gur,or%20about%2011.1%20million%20people. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-culture-of-burkina-faso.html https://barkafoundation.org/burkina-faso-history-culture-climate-people-more/
Mare aux Hippopotames
By Joe Marrone 20 Jul, 2022
Around the world, National parks are protecting sea creatures, insects, and fauna alike. In Burkina Faso, five national parks preserve the beauty of West African wildlife. One of the oldest National parks in Burkina Faso is called the Mare aux Hippopotames. Established in 1937, the Mare aux Hippopotames became the only UNESCO Biosphere reserve in the nation. Formally established in 1977 and translated to ‘Lake of Hippopotamuses,’ it was created around a freshwater lake with other pools and marshes. It spans about 19,200 ha covering the floodplain of the black volta river. While the park’s main feature is the lake it is named after, the surrounding and protected galley forests have the most beneficial impact on the larger ecosystem. Galley forests form corridors along waterways, growing trees in regions that do not typically support tree growth. In these galley forests, Elephants, antelopes, primates, and hundreds of bird species can roam free. In addition, in the freshwater lake, crocodiles and a large population of hippopotamuses bring tourists to the region. Located in the southwest of Burkina Faso, the wildlife of Mare aux Hippopotames sees only four months of rainy weather, making the protection of the freshwater lake vital to the ecosystem. Moving east in Burkina Faso, located just north of the border of Ghana, is the second National Park of Burkina Faso, Kaborè Tambi National Park. Founded in 1976, the park follows the Nazinon river covering 155,500 ha. The large stretch of land has become a safe haven for wildlife, particularly birds, in Burkina Faso. But unfortunately, the park is not immune to poachers. In 1991, a ranger lost his life to poachers, and the park was renamed in his honor. Poachers have been a major issue throughout Africa since the discovery of ivory. Focusing on elephants, poachers are debilitating the population. The Deux Balès National Park was once home to the largest population of elephants in Burkina Faso in 2001. In 1937, as part of French West Africa, the area was named the Deux Balès Classified Forests. Unfortunately, the name is misleading, for this area was never designated as a national park. The area of the park ranges anywhere from 61,000 ha to 81,000 ha. While it is no longer home to a large population of elephants, the park is home to various flora. Most notably aging baobab trees. Native to Africa, baobab trees are widespread and can live up to 2,000 years. While this park is a haven for vegetation, without proper management, protection, and designation as a national park, wildlife continues to be threatened. The last set of national parks is a joint effort by multiple countries in West Africa. The first, Arli National Park, is located on the far east side of Burkina Faso, linking up with Benin’s Pendjari National Park. The Arli National Park holds a portion of the habitat home to Burkina Faso’s elephant population. The park is also home to hippopotamuses, lions, woodlands, gallery forests, and sandstone hills. Just north of Arli is W National Park, a major national park in West Africa encompassing three countries: Burkina Faso, Niger, and Bennin. Formally established in 1954, the park follows a bend of the River Niger that outlines a ‘W’ where the park gets its name. While the area is largely uninhabited due to wetlands that create a malaria zone, archaeological discoveries have shown humans once occupied the area. W National Park is significant not only for the 800,000 ha it protects but because of the wildlife living within it. The park is known for its large animals, such as the cheetah, buffalo, and aardvark. Most notably, W National Park is home to the most extensive grouping of the endangered West African Elephants. In 2016, the African elephant Status Report estimated that 6,850 elephants live in Burkina Faso. In 2003, the government of Burkina Faso at the time published an elephant management strategy that successfully increased the dying elephant population. Unfortunately, as the political situation degraded in Burkina Faso, so did the protection of these elephants. As a result, poaching carcasses have increased to about 50 - 86 per year. By actively establishing, protecting, and maintaining National Parks, we can continue to hope to see an increase in Africa’s biodiversity. However, we cannot rely on National Parks alone to protect our planet. It will take a considerable effort from everyone to keep temperatures low, keep species alive, and continue the harmony of the ecosystem. Through FarmSahel’s programs and the continued efforts of smallholder farmers implementing sustainable permaculture, FarmSahel will be able to revitalize and maintain the beautiful ecosystem of Africa. https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-060_E.pdf https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-four-national-parks-of-burkina-faso.html https://discover-burkinafaso.com/national-parks/ https://www.africatouroperators.org/burkina-faso/kabore-tambi-national-park https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deux_Bal%C3%A9s_National_Park https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/africa/mare-aux-hippopotames https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W_National_Park https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Burkina_Faso#W_of_the_Niger_National_Park
By Joe Marrone 06 Jul, 2022
While FarmSahel focuses on improving agriculture, Africa is also a continent rich in raw minerals. Mining has been a prime export of Africa starting around 1000 BCE in Northern Central Africa, where the Early Iron Age originated on the continent. Before the scramble for Africa by European nations, explorers saw the multitude of mines for precious metals from gold to copper. Unfortunately, not every African civilization had access to the income that luxurious metals brought. Even in 2022, Africa is still a major source of minerals that spread around the globe. Unfortunately, even now, people are being exploited to extract those minerals. Commonly referred to as 3T minerals: tin, tantalum, and tungsten. The 3T minerals are essential to creating standard technology. They are relied on by major companies such as Apple, Tesla, Intel, and Microsoft. As the technology boom flourished and a focus on better batteries and smaller components came to fruition, so did the question of ethical sourcing. In 2009, a group of organizations created the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative or the ITSCI. It aims to create a reliable and ethical supply chain for the 3T minerals. Through a system of government validation of mines, audits, and specialty tagging, companies and countries would be able to know that these minerals came from ethical mines. Most mines for the 3T minerals come from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. It is also from these two countries that most conflict minerals are making it to market. A conflict mineral comes from a mine that is exploiting its workers. Usually, this means an armed militia group has taken control of the mine where they can use child labor, force nearby towns to work, and ignore any safety precautions. These mines are a vital source of income for these militia groups. With the ability to launder minerals into the overall market, violence has raged for control of the mines. Militia groups are vying for more mines to increase their income, with no accountability for smuggling minerals onto the international stage. In 2014, the ITSCI government first recognized the contamination of conflict minerals in the international market. Then, in 2015, the Congolese NGO Max Impact also alleged that conflict minerals were making it past the ITSCI verification and into the market. Now, decades later, Global Witness has evidence that only 20% of the 83 tons of 3T minerals have come from validated mines. Most of the contamination comes from the east of the DRC near the border with Rwanda. In addition, Global Witness and other NGOs continuously find that mines are tagging much more minerals than they have produced. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a solution in sight. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development determined that the ITSCI verification system aligns with its due diligence despite continued evidence from NGOs and Watchdog groups. In addition, Global Witness found new evidence suggesting that ITSCI individuals frequently downplay or ignore incidents of contamination that seriously affect the supply chain. Furthermore, according to the UN, highly underpaid governmental employees often participate in smuggling. With minimal field staff and an extreme lack of oversight from the ITSCI, it is difficult to see a clear solution. Global Witness listed a list of potential reforms that can get conflict minerals out of the international supply. Unfortunately, major companies are contempt at trusting the mechanism in place, which has proven to fail. Reforming the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative is a necessary first step to avoiding conflicts of interest. Second, Global Witness calls for validated mines to be transparent in their mineral production data. We must rely on the action of NGOs and groups like Global Witness to continue to bring this lawlessness to light. Mining is already a life-threatening job, but we rely on the precious minerals in our everyday lives. It is not impossible to have a world where companies can trace all minerals back to an ethically sourced mine! https://news.mongabay.com/2022/05/scheme-to-stop-conflict-minerals-fails-to-end-child-labor-in-drc-report-says/ https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/natural-resource-governance/itsci-laundromat/#key-recommendations https://www.globalwitness.org/documents/20347/The_ITSCI_Laundromat_-_April_2022.pdf https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/conflict-minerals/#:~:text=The%20global%20minerals%20trade%20has,supply%20chains%20and%20mitigating%20harms.
By Joe Marrone 04 Jul, 2022
In December 2015, the 21st Conference of Parties was held in Paris, where 196 countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement. In short, this agreement brings most nations together to develop and implement ambitious reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. However, many climate activities do not believe the agreement goes far enough. First, each country must act on its own accord and set its greenhouse gas targets. Second, the plans that were introduced in 2015 were not aggressive enough to combat the 1.5 degrees Celsius the Paris Climate Agreement is trying to avoid. Third, after almost six years of the Paris Climate Agreement, we have seen that countries are not taking the extreme measures needed to limit emissions. While the Paris agreement may not have been the answer to the most pressing issue humanity faces, COP21 produced another lesser-known initiative. The 4 per 1000 initiative was launched by France in December 2015 aimed as a grassroots effort to show the importance agricultural soils have in reducing climate change and increasing food security. The 4 per 1000 initiative is strictly voluntary, but, unlike the Paris agreement, it targets everybody from states, companies, NGOs, and non-profit organizations to implement actions for soil carbon storage. The 4 per 1000 initiative focuses on the benefits of soil carbon storage that turn greenhouse gas emissions from plants into nutrients for the soil. Its name comes from the target increase to significantly improve soil vitality. Scientific research shows that an annual 0.4% increase in soil carbon retention will significantly reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Currently, the world’s soil stock is storing 1,500 billion tons of carbon in the form of organic matter. Soil is able to store carbon dioxide from plants that have pulled the greenhouse gas in through photosynthesis. When the plant dies, organic matter from the soil breaks down the plant, storing the CO2, and creating a more nutritious and healthier soil layer. While 1,500 billion tons of CO2 sounds like a lot, it does not compete in scale of the 36.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from human activities in 2019. Each year, that amount increases by 4.3 billion tons. A rate that is hard to slow down and almost impossible to capture. Additionally, soil degradation is increasing while the weather turns extreme to heat waves and floods. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that 75% of soils are already degraded in varying degrees due to human activities. In this dire situation, the 4 per 1000 initiative gives everybody the opportunity to work towards reducing climate change. 4 per 1000 focuses on increasing the ability of soil to store carbon, which will increase the soil’s health. The initiative lists ways farmers worldwide can better protect and support their soil: • Never leave soil bare. • Use no-tilling methods of farming. • Grow more cover crops. • Develop agroforestry. • Optimize pasture management. • Improve water and fertilizer management. The 4 per 1000 initiative lists these as ways to start enriching and protecting our soils from further damage. Not only storing greenhouse gasses but increasing food security through healthier soil. FarmSahel has already implemented most of these recommendations in Burkina Faso. However, we have the added task of having to restore soil vitality before protecting its nutrients. FarmSahel will continue to implement these recommendations to restore soil nutrients, and we hope with our commitment to the 4per1000 initiative, we can continue to highlight the importance of sustainable permaculture. FarmSahel has joined this grassroots effort to show the world how vital soil health is. Nutritious soil will benefit the climate, biodiversity, farmers, and families. FarmSahel has programs in place to start bringing life back to the soils of Burkina Faso. Only through donations can we continue our effort to promote and implement sustainable permaculture. https://4p1000.org/discover/?lang=en https://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/12/world/global-climate-change-conference-vote/ https://regenerationinternational.org/4p1000/ https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement
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