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Farmers in Africa say their soil is dying and chemical fertilizers are in part to blame (apnews.com)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

42 comments fedilink hide all child comments

When Benson Wanjala started farming in his western Kenya village two and a half decades ago, his 10-acre farm could produce a bountiful harvest of 200 bags of maize. That has dwindled to 30. He says his once fertile soil has become a nearly lifeless field that no longer earns him a living.

Like many other farmers, he blames acidifying fertilizers pushed in Kenya and other African countries in recent years. He said he started using the fertilizers to boost his yield and it worked — until it didn’t. Kenya’s government first introduced a fertilizer subsidy in 2008, making chemical fertilizers more accessible for smaller-scale farmers.

Problems with soil health are growing as the African continent struggles to feed itself. Africa has 65% of the world’s remaining uncultivated arable land but has spent about $60 billion annually to import food, according to the African Development Bank. The spending is estimated to jump to $110 billion by 2025 due to increased demand and changing consumption habits.

“Inorganic fertilizers were never meant to be the foundation of crop production,” he said, later adding that because of “commercially inclined farming, our soils are now poor, acidic, and low in biomass resources, and without life!”

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (6 children)

They didn’t say that, you inferred it. Also your take on them not going to school? The fuck? They can definitely do both

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (4 children)

I really feel that there must be a streak of racism among the people who responded to this thread. It was weird how people took exception to the idea of food being made in a community.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

I think there's a streak of racism among Westerners who think they know better than the people on the ground, if we're going there.

In fact, the people who actually show up to help have a nickname for your lot: "Great White Savior"

I don't think you're a bad person. Or a racist. I do think you stepped in shit and are digging yourself deeper out of, like, pride.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Nah, man, this is all on you. Talking about what people in Africa, India, and Pakistan are experimenting with in their own country does not make anyone outside of there a white savior. This is really all on you.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

You didn't just talk about it. You said they should all do it, and specifically shouldn't do standard agriculture, like what you depend on. If they find a use for mixed planting, great, and obviously they do sometimes.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 month ago

We're done. You're toxic, have a block.

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