The world has long understood that healthy soils mean healthy crops, but the link after that, to human health, can sometimes go unnoticed.
“We know soil health is very closely linked to human health through food security and the nutrients it provides for us,” said Lara Moody of the Fertilizer Institute from the United States.
The institute joined the Canadian Fertilizer institute, Agriculture Canada and soil conservation organizations to talk about stewardship of the soil and what can be done to help the world’s undernourished people.
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Responsibility for maintaining soil quality and ultimately paying for it was among the questions discussed at the international stewardship symposium held in Calgary July 14-15.
Farmers may run soil tests on fertility, but perhaps universities and government could play a larger role in assessing the complex properties, said Barbara Cade-Menum, a soil scientist at Agriculture Canada’s research centre in Swift Current, Sask.
It is in the interest of the public to have healthy soil, but taxpayers may not want to pay for it, she added.
“Who monitors things like long-term soil properties?” she said.
Improving soil health in developing countries requires more education for the world’s small-scale farmers who may work less than an acre of land with a hoe.
“It is very important (that) when we talk about improving soil quality, we talk about the human aspect,” said Hlami Ngwenya of South Africa, who works with the Global Rural Advisory Services, a non-governmental organization.
Work needs to start from the ground up by teaching these farmers about the benefits of improved soil so that they can grow better crops, she said.
However, it is also known that they may try new ideas once and then revert back to the old practices when the problem goes away.
Ngwenya said a lack of government money to deliver extension programs is a major barrier to getting information to farmers.
“Are the policy makers aware of the creativity that is needed to work with small-holder farmers?” she said.
As well, many well-meaning non-government organizations (NGOs) work with farmers but too often they leave after a project has been completed rather than providing continuing support.
The One Acre Fund, which is based in Kenya, plans to work in East Africa as long as people want its services, said Laurence Dare, who has been stationed in Nairobi.
This non-profit group works in Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi with ambitions is to grow by one country a year in the region starting with Ethiopia, Uganda and Malawi.
“It is essentially a business model, and we hope to get closer to cost recovery so we don’t have to ask donors for any money.”
The agency signs contracts with farmers and lends seed, fertilizer and other inputs.
“We never give out any money at all,” he said.
barbara.duckworth@producer.com
