By Matthew Candau
Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture serves as the cornerstone of countless livelihoods, with farmers tending to fields that have sustained families for generations. However, in recent years, the reliability of weather patterns has wavered. In 2020 alone, over one million Africans were displaced by floods and tropical storms, marking a tenfold surge in flooding events since the 1970s.
Climate change projections foresee volatile rainfall patterns due to mid-latitude region shifts, predicting prolonged droughts in some regions and increased flooding in others. This unpredictability, coupled with rising temperatures, imperils staple crops such as coffee, wheat, and sorghum, projecting yield reductions of up to 25%. Considering the region’s population is expected to double by 2050, concerns regarding health and food security cannot be overstated.
Livestock farming faces analogous challenges; inconsistent rainfall, diminishing grazing lands, and temperature fluctuations render cattle a less reliable commodity, consequently elevating risks of malnutrition and reducing meat yields.
“We depend on livestock, and the ones that haven’t died are weak,” remarked Jala Barako, farmer and grandfather of eight from northern Kenya. “In normal times, they support us. Now we support them.”
These multifaceted challenges underscore the pressing need for solutions. However, the recourse is not solely in technological innovation and extensive investment. Instead, agricultural laborers and companies in sub-Saharan Africa have the unique opportunity to tap into traditional knowledge and methods. These practices, often overshadowed by modern technologies endorsed by Africa’s trade partners and large corporations, harbor immense potential not just for preserving yields but for shaping a sustainable and resilient future in the face of climate change.
For centuries, rural political and spiritual leaders across sub-Saharan Africa have been perfecting the art of ensuring bountiful harvests. In Nganyi village, Kenya, Abachimba (rain-makers) possess the renowned ability to predict storms and maximize agricultural productivity – a tradition passed down through generations. This knowledge, rooted in astute analysis of wildlife behavior, wind patterns, and other ecological indicators, guides local farming calendars with remarkable accuracy.
Moreover, early appearances of butterflies and safari ants serve as indicators for favorable farming conditions in parts of rural South Africa. Other similar strategies can be observed in pockets of rural communities throughout the continent.
“I do not know when [these practices] started and I do not know when they will end,” one man from Agoro, Kenya said. “What I can tell you is that it helps us a lot in understanding changes in weather conditions and the onset or cessation of the planting season.”
Furthermore, adopting non-chemical crop protection and indigenous pest management methods holds promise for the agricultural industry. Cow urine, for example, utilized by 89% of farmers in Ethiopia’s Debark district, exhibits anti-fungal properties, augmenting seedling germination and land productivity. Indigenous vegetable and crop varieties like millet and cassava inherently resist pests and diseases, consequently necessitating less water and fewer fertilizers. In Mali’s Dogon Plateau, farmers form soil mounds between crop rows, fertilizing and protecting crops from runoff. Additionally, Senegalese smallholder farmers utilize traditional sling-style weapons or rattles to deter birds – a more ecologically sustainable and cost-effective alternative to chemical pesticides.
These indigenous agricultural practices, among countless others, ensure not only food security but also economic opportunities and greater nutritional value compared to invasive western crops. Despite challenges in transmitting this knowledge to younger generations due to modernization and urbanization, the adaptability and dynamism of traditional agricultural techniques offer enhancements in rural community livelihoods. By combining these methods with select modern technologies, widespread productivity increases and environmentally-conscious scalability become feasible.
Other sustainable practices, like silvopastoral agroforestry, exhibit promise in fortifying climate resilience. This technique, entailing the planting of fruit-bearing trees in suitable grazing land, not only provides economic upside but aids in carbon sequestration and mitigates the effects of extreme weather. The fruit yields from these trees enhance crop surplus available for sale as well as contribute to improved livestock nutrition and increased meat yields when fed directly to grazing animals. Additionally, certain native tree species act as natural fertilizers, enriching the soil with nitrogen, sometimes more effectively than synthetic alternatives.
Integrating agroforestry into livestock agriculture augurs increased food accessibility and income generation, combating undernutrition and advancing ecological sustainability. In Burkina Faso, a country that subsidizes the technique, nearly half of farmers report additional income generation through the fruit and wood products derived from indigenous tree planting.
Amid ever-uncertain growing conditions, embracing indigenous knowledge and sustainable practices has emerged as a practical solution. These time-tested methods, deeply rooted in local wisdom and heritage, provide support to the agricultural industry. The value of these practices transcends mere crop yields or economic gains; they represent a profound connection to the land, an intricate fabric of knowledge woven through the generations.
Prioritizing traditional methods over ecologically harmful modern practices elevates the native voices that have long been unheard. In the words of the local chief of Mxumbu village in South Africa, “You see, this, your so-called civilization, has destroyed a lot of things relating to African culture and traditions.”
As the world navigates the uncertainties of climate change, it is imperative to recognize and preserve these traditions, for in these unassuming methods lie the keys to a more resilient and sustainable future for food security.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own, and may not reflect the opinions of The St Andrews Economist.
Image Courtesy of Annie Spratt via Unsplash