Nairobi: Agriculture, climate, and soil experts have called for urgent action to improve soil and water management, warning that rising climate pressures and increasing food demand are stretching Africa’s agricultural systems. Speaking at the Climate Smart Water Management and Sustainable Development for Food and Agriculture in East Africa (WATDEV) International Conference, Sylvester Baguma, the Executive Director of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), highlighted the continent’s potential to bolster global food security despite facing significant challenges like erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and soil degradation.
According to Kenya News Agency, Baguma emphasized the immense challenge posed by agriculture’s consumption of 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals, coupled with a projected 60 percent rise in food demand by 2050. He argued that transforming African agriculture necessitates a fundamental overhaul in the management of water, soil, and energy resources to build resilient agri-food systems capable of withstanding climate shocks.
Researcher Victor Ongoma from Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco warned of the exacerbating effects of climate change on droughts and floods across the continent, which disrupt planting cycles and reduce yields. Ongoma noted that rising temperatures are likely to intensify drought conditions, while heavier rainfall events increase the risk of crop damage. He also pointed out the additional pressure from Africa’s rapid population growth on already strained natural resources, calling for policy reforms, technological innovation, and market transformation to support sustainable food systems.
In Ethiopia, researchers are confronting these challenges head-on. Tsigemariam Kasahun, a water and soil management specialist at the Water and Land Resources Centre (WLRC), described the country’s struggles with economic water scarcity and severe soil degradation. Heavy rainfall contributes to topsoil loss, sedimentation in irrigation canals, and declining soil nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. To combat soil degradation, the WATDEV project, an EU-funded initiative, is promoting composting and vermicomposting as cost-effective, farmer-led solutions to restore soil fertility, improve moisture retention, and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
In Kenya, Dr. Hellen Sang, a PhD research fellow, identified water scarcity as the predominant challenge in semi-arid regions, leading to soil erosion and reduced crop productivity. Her work under the WATDEV project focuses on enhancing water management practices at the Hola and Bura irrigation schemes in Tana River County. Sang highlighted the need for new farming systems and stronger water governance associations, as well as addressing a major gap in soil testing among smallholder farmers. The project collaborates with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) to improve access to affordable soil testing services.
The conference convened researchers, government agencies, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to explore innovative approaches to managing water, soil, and land. Outcomes from the forum are expected to inform policies and investments aimed at strengthening climate resilience, improving food security, and promoting sustainable agriculture across Africa.
