17
place within the self after the individual views and the ideas from different perspectives. In other words, we cannot transform ourselves viewing the beliefs and
assumptions in a taken-for-granted manner.
8 Conclusions
The biophysical process of soil degradation is strongly influenced by the socioeconomic, political, and cultural factors, including land tenure and the gender- related
issues. Indeed, soil-climate-human factors are intricately interlinked, and humanity’s
impact on soil is increasing with increase in population, affluence with which the
population lives, and changes in technologies. Therefore, re- carbonization of the soil
and the terrestrial biosphere has numerous co-benefits, especially those related to
advancing specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
Degradation of soil and forest resources and reduction in poverty of everincreasing population of SSA call for innovative intensifications that are resilient to
climate change impact and weather variability. Thus, there is a need for adoption
and intensification of farming systems such as irrigation agriculture, mechanization,
and increase in off-farm jobs. However, these innovative technologies must be adaptive to the farming system in SSA if the positive effect of increased population as
market for agricultural produce has to be realized. It has been cautioned that the
continued increase in population would reach a stage when the household land area
will be too small to sustain household food security, leading to food shortage, to the
extent that increased productivity might not solve the food insecurity problem.
Adoption of new technologies such as integrated dairy and cropping systems leading to increased farm productivity and income is spreading in central Malawi and
the southern highlands of Tanzania. These developments are encouraging as an integrated system of crop-livestock-aquaculture is gaining importance.
Integrated aquaculture has great potential in improving food security and ensuring
diversification of diets, as the systems generate both animal proteins and vegetables.
However, there is a need to reach out to medium- and large-scale farmers in order to
achieve meaningful gains in aquaculture production. Private companies and NGOs
can play a crucial role in disseminating developed technologies by SUA to different
regions in Tanzania and other SSA countries, and the idea of personal transformation
for changing small farmers’ attitude for greater good should also be probed further.
References
Amuri NA (2015) Enhancing resilience of food production systems under changing climate and soil
degradation in semi-arid and highlands of Tanzania. In: Lal R et al (eds) Sustainable intensification to advance food security and enhance climate resilience in Africa. Springer International
Publishing Switzerland, Cham, pp 385–405. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09360-4
Agricultural and Natural Resource Sustainability Under Changing Climate in Africa
place within the self after the individual views and the ideas from different perspectives. In other words, we cannot transform ourselves viewing the beliefs and
assumptions in a taken-for-granted manner.
8 Conclusions
The biophysical process of soil degradation is strongly influenced by the socioeconomic, political, and cultural factors, including land tenure and the gender- related
issues. Indeed, soil-climate-human factors are intricately interlinked, and humanity’s
impact on soil is increasing with increase in population, affluence with which the
population lives, and changes in technologies. Therefore, re- carbonization of the soil
and the terrestrial biosphere has numerous co-benefits, especially those related to
advancing specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
Degradation of soil and forest resources and reduction in poverty of everincreasing population of SSA call for innovative intensifications that are resilient to
climate change impact and weather variability. Thus, there is a need for adoption
and intensification of farming systems such as irrigation agriculture, mechanization,
and increase in off-farm jobs. However, these innovative technologies must be adaptive to the farming system in SSA if the positive effect of increased population as
market for agricultural produce has to be realized. It has been cautioned that the
continued increase in population would reach a stage when the household land area
will be too small to sustain household food security, leading to food shortage, to the
extent that increased productivity might not solve the food insecurity problem.
Adoption of new technologies such as integrated dairy and cropping systems leading to increased farm productivity and income is spreading in central Malawi and
the southern highlands of Tanzania. These developments are encouraging as an integrated system of crop-livestock-aquaculture is gaining importance.
Integrated aquaculture has great potential in improving food security and ensuring
diversification of diets, as the systems generate both animal proteins and vegetables.
However, there is a need to reach out to medium- and large-scale farmers in order to
achieve meaningful gains in aquaculture production. Private companies and NGOs
can play a crucial role in disseminating developed technologies by SUA to different
regions in Tanzania and other SSA countries, and the idea of personal transformation
for changing small farmers’ attitude for greater good should also be probed further.
References
Amuri NA (2015) Enhancing resilience of food production systems under changing climate and soil
degradation in semi-arid and highlands of Tanzania. In: Lal R et al (eds) Sustainable intensification to advance food security and enhance climate resilience in Africa. Springer International
Publishing Switzerland, Cham, pp 385–405. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09360-4
Agricultural and Natural Resource Sustainability Under Changing Climate in Africa