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New soil map for African farmers
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by Amy Judd | January 13, 2009 at 04:05 pm
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The first ever soil map of sub-Saharan Africa is going to be created, where farmers from 42 countries will get a 'soil health diagnosis' and then advice on how to grow and cultivate their crops.
Soil samples will be taken from all the areas and then analysed for nutrient levels. Then using satellite data, a map will be created to be given to poor farmers to help them look at where the best soil lies and where the most nutrients are located. This is an initial four year programme with plans to expand after that.
"From the farmer in the field, right up to to the secretary general of the UN, we need precision soil information," said Pedro Sanchez, of Columbia University's Earth Institute, a partner in the project.
"But we do not have this in sufficient detail.
"For example, in the whole of Malawi there is only one fertiliser recommendation for maize - but there are many different soil types.
"We have to get into the 21st century.
"While other disciplines, such as climate science, have created detailed digital maps, we are still catching up."
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 16:34 on January 13th, 2009
Interesting! So is the idea that they will discover nutrient rich soil areas and farmers will move to those areas? Will they be testing on public land or private land or both? Seems like a lot of ground to cover. Literally.
at 19:59 on January 13th, 2009
This sounds really interesting, Amy. The two guys in my pic are "farmers" in the village of Pakalinding (what a lovely name: sadly the conditions are not so lovely). The water tank that supplies the water to the whole village has been leaking about 25% of its capacity for years. No one seems to know how to get it fixed. The rains come for three weeks! The boys in the picture farm a plot up to the building in the backgrund (each plot has four small stakes at their corners). No one uses any fertilizer: not even the bullock dung in the fields! There is a lost of rubbish in the village (coconut husks) that could recycled on the land, but people have lost hope I think - in the light of the US groundnut subsidies, it is hard to sell the only crop they can grow!
at 20:33 on January 13th, 2009
This photo is from Isibania, Kuria District, Kenya. It is a field of one of the farmers participating in Nuru International's farm loan program. Nuru International is a new non-profit humanitarian organization located at the crossroads of innovation and extreme poverty. www.nuruinternational.org
Nuru International has contributed a photo to this story.
at 00:30 on January 14th, 2009
It is a GPS map used in North America and Europe can only be accurate if for every scare meter a sample is take and this has to be repeated annually, very costly and labour intensive, I can not see that working or even being accurate at this point in time.
at 02:01 on January 14th, 2009
Two civil engineers discussing soil samples in Somaliland, october 2008
th3rdman has contributed a photo to this story.
at 05:31 on January 14th, 2009
This picture was taken in the Swartland region of the Western Cape in South Africa. It is renowned for being the wheat producing region of South Africa, but have in recent times experienced all sorts of climate change related issues. From water shortages, extended droughts, crop failures, etc. This photo was taken during a good year, just before harvesting began.
konsciousimages has contributed a photo to this story.
at 01:36 on January 16th, 2009
This photo was taken in 2007 in the Kayambi area, the Northern Province of Zambia. It is a field with young maize. Even at this early stage we found stalk borers on a lot of plants. Small scale farmers are still using the Chitimene system, which is basically slash and burn method. This method is creating erosions and the fertilizers applied are wasted. The soil remaining is leached and acidic. Next time around the same farmer may apply even more fertilizer to get a better crop. Many farmers are not taking on the recommendations of the agricultural officers. The use of green manure has not been taken seriously enough. Crops could be atleast doubled by using different forms of cultivation and better pest control. Birds and other small animals are still getting killed (not always only for eating). This means the natural pest control is taken out of the food chain. The chain is getting smaller and more vulnerable with each season.
Anja Baker has contributed a photo to this story.
at 05:09 on July 4th, 2009
Dear Sir/ Madam, Good Morning. Integrated organic and inorganic fertilization is needed to increase the yield ofcrops.Northern fertilizer policy is initiated based on the longterm experimental findings, practical experience and observations.Fertilizer recommendation for any crop is made depending on soil, plant analytical results, yield of crops.so, reach desired goal checked-climate,plant population,pest and disease control measures,the critical values of specific crop soil in specific areas.pls visit www.northernfertilizer.org Thanking You Kbd. Durlave Roy R and D MANAGER , NORTHERN AGRO SERVICES LTD,<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />BANGLADESH.