Since 1970, the population of sub-Saharan Africa has more than doubled. Land holdings have consequently shrunk in size, and many farmers, unable to leave their land fallow, now grow the same food crops, year after year, on the same plot of land.While the use of mineral fertilizers has risen tenfold in East Asia since 1970, it has remained stagnant, at very low levels, in sub-Saharan Africa. For most small farmers the use of fertilizers that could replenish their soils is not economically feasible, due to increasing prices and climatic risks. The result is land degradation, low yields, persistent poverty and widespread malnutrition.
Publication year
2009
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
agriculture, food security, environmental sciences, fallow, maize, farmers
