BAKU: As world leaders convene in Baku to confront the escalating climate crisis, the effects are increasingly palpable in third world countries, with Kenya bearing a significant burden. The nation’s ongoing challenges with pollution, disease outbreaks, erratic rainfall, and famine mirror the broader climate instability affecting food security through declining soil fertility.
According to Kenya News Agency, the impacts of climate change are most evident in regions like Kuria, Nyatike, Migori, Rongo, Awendo, and Uriri, where the grassroots efforts to produce food are feeling the strain. Environmental experts report widespread food shortages, attributing this to the degraded soil quality that hampers agricultural productivity. Farmers in Kuria East Sub-county have particularly noted accelerated soil degradation, impacting their ability to maintain crop yields.
George Amimo, a retired agricultural expert, highlights that the repetition of traditional farming practices and the persistent use of the same fertil
izers and pesticides have depleted soil nutrients and increased soil acidity. This has led to a significant drop in maize yields from over 60 bags per acre in 1977 to less than 20 bags today.
Dr. Collins Were, a soil expert, underscores that the high cost of soil testing has prevented many farmers from assessing their soil’s health. He warns that Kenya’s 4.5 million acres of arable land are losing productivity due to soil acidity and compaction, exacerbated by mechanized farming. This compaction restricts nutrient access and hampers water infiltration, leading to flooding and other adverse effects on crop growth.
Efforts to improve soil conditions are underway, with Dr. Were advocating for the adoption of Agrisoc, a soil conditioner developed by Orion East Africa, which has been shown to enhance soil microbial activity and reduce erosion, thereby increasing yields by 15%.
Compounding the issue, activities like sand harvesting, gold mining, and deforestation have further degraded farmland. Environmentalists
like Francis Marwa and Gibai of the Kuria Data Link Initiative call for government intervention to halt these destructive practices and to establish clear boundaries to prevent human encroachment into protected areas.
The situation in Migori County is a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable soil management practices to secure food production and address the broader climate challenges facing the region.