Soil fertility, small-farm intensification and the environment in Africa

Abstract

In order to eradicate hunger, malnutrition, poverty and environmental degradation in subsaharan Africa, policies that favour smallholder rural development need to be formulated. This paper focuses on two key factors; a) the reversal of soil fertility depletion ad the fundamental biophysical constraint to food security; and b) the intensification and diversification of small-holder farming by growing trees and plants that produce high valued products as a key to poverty eradication. The paper proposes ten main components necessary for the achievement of the mentioned objectives. These components are discussed with special reference to eastern and southern Africa