Soil depletion could fail agriculture in 60 years
Jan 22, 2022
In Uganda, soil organic matter is low to medium in most places and is declining due to increased erosion and poor land management practices.

Gerald Tenywa
Journalist @New Vision
SOIL | DEPLETION | AGRICULTURE
As population increases and climate change bites, farmers will have to grow more food in harder conditions.
This is being accompanied by soil degradation worsening food insecurity in different countries around the world.
“If the alarming rate of soil degradation today continues, scientists estimate that would have only 60 more years of agriculture. The most fundamental thing for our future wellbeing and prosperity is rich and healthy soil,” said Conscious Planet, a global movement formed to initiate a conscious approach to soil and planet.
The movement seeks to show governments of all nations that their citizens want policy to revitalize soil and ecology.
State of soils in Uganda
In Uganda, soil organic matter is low to medium in most places and is declining due to increased erosion and poor land management practices, according to the State of Environment 2018-2019 released by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
Soil organic carbon and soil pH are key indicators of the status of soil health, the pH of Uganda’s soils vary, owing to a climate gradient, but has a narrow range between 4.8 and 6.3.
High soil pH is mainly in the Karamoja region, where conditions are generally dry; otherwise, the rest is low because of wet conditions.
Soil degradation is a major threat to food security in Uganda and is responsible for siltation and pollution of lakes, rivers and open water sources, which has affected livelihoods.
Major causes of soil degradation in Uganda are nutrient depletion and soil erosion.
The degradation of the soil resource in Uganda is attributed to population growth and the attendant effect on land ownership and fragmentation, land tenure, adoption of inappropriate land and soil management practices, and the low use of fertilizers and organic manure.
“The population explosion seems to out-match farmer’s ability to find arable land and 50% of the land have soils of medium productivity,” according to NEMA’s report, adding that this has resulted into encroachment of protected areas.
Recommended interventions, according to NEMA's report, include revision of the legal framework particularly the National Environment (Minimum Standards for management of Soil Quality) Regulations and National Environment (Hilly and Mountainous Area Management) Regulations, mapping of erosion risk and soil nutrient deficiency, enforcing the adoption of appropriate soil and water conservation strategies.
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