|  Many
scientists consider declining soil fertility the biggest obstacle
to food security in Africa. Unfavourable geology and climate
are part of the problem. But many interconnected human influences
are also at work. Continuous cropping, overgrazing, deforestation,
and cultivation of steep slopes without erosion control are
major causes. The problem is accentuated by lack of farmer
empowerment and inappropriate policies on fertiliser and food
prices. On the scientific side, there are still major gaps
in our understanding of soil dynamics, especially the biology
and ecology of below-ground biodiversity.
Solving this problem requires a mix of strategies involving
multiple partners, but especially farmers, the primary stewards
of the soil. Fortunately, there has been significant progress
on the technical and social sides, thanks in large part to
the work of CIAT’s Nairobi-based Tropical Soil Biology
and Fertility (TSBF) Institute.
Over the past 20 years, TSBF has helped usher in a new paradigm
for soil science. ISFM moves away from the earlier focus on
inorganic fertilizers and puts greater emphasis on the role
of organic matter and soil organisms in sustainable farming.
The new approach also accords a central role to farmer innovation
and technology diffusion as well as community action.
“The yield gap between research stations and farmers’
fields can be bridged,” says TSBF director Nteranya Sanginga,
“if farmers are empowered and better organized. They
need simple methods for diagnosing soil fertility problems
and for identifying optimal combinations of organic and inorganic
inputs.” CIAT has made significant progress in both these
areas of ISFM.
Visit the Web site
of the TSBF Institute of CIAT
|
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