A project in 3 African countries is seeking to overcome the problem of low yields by making farmers aware of the links between climate change and soil fertility, and what can be done to improve the situation.

An article in Africa Science News outlines how “the lack of awareness among farming communities of the links between soil fertility and the diverse livelihood problems that they are facing as they struggle to adapt to climate change” is a major challenge.

Farmers such as Elsafan Mwachuga in Taita Taveta County, Kenya have seen significant changes in weather patterns in recent years. These climatic changes coupled with poor land management practices are exacerbating soil fertility problems.

Crispus Mugambi, a soil scientist with the Kenya Agricultural, Livestock and Research Organisation (KARLO), says the ideal situation would be for farmers to perform soil tests before planting, but few can afford or access these tests.

Mugambi is working on the Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystem services and food Security in Eastern Africa (CHIESA) project run by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE). He is promoting integrated soil fertility management practices to help farmers adapt to climate change. Among the practices he recommends are agroforestry and integrating crop legumes to improve soil fertility.

The CHIESA project is comparing the impact of climate change on food security and livelihoods in 3 regions in East Africa: Kenya’s Taita hills, Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro and Ethiopia’s Jimma highlands. It aims to increase knowledge, build capacity and develop adaptation strategies to climate change impacts.

Read the full story: Climate change: Improving soil fertility key to increasing food security