With vast arable lands carbon farming has been a key subject, Africa is considered to withhold prospects of greater accomplishments in agriculture and renewable energy.
The continent has been a key focus in the global markets owing to its numerous minerals that are essential for the transition to renewable energy and reduction of carbon emissions, an essential in effecting net-zero goal attainment.
With Agriculture taking center stage in Africa, there’s a push to adopt carbon farming and climate-smart agriculture.
However, the farmers in their local communities can barely understand these forms of practicing agriculture hence making it a challenge to adapt effectively.
What is carbon farming?
Carbon farming encompasses a range of land management practices that capture and store carbon dioxide. It entails a whole farm approach that optimizes carbon capture through engaging in the implementation of practices that further increase the rate at which C02 is removed from the atmosphere as it’s absorbed in plant material and soil organic matter.
Some of these processes involved in carbon farming play a critical role in the reduction of greenhouse gases emitted from livestock, soil, or vegetation.
Most of the processes range from organic farming, regenerative agriculture, permaculture, and other approaches to food production.
Carbon farming practices range from simple changes like no-till cultivation to more wide-ranging plans to optimize the absorption of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These methods range from agroforestry, rotational grazing, conservation tilling, mulching, and cover cropping to composting amongst others.
Farmers are urged to embrace carbon farming methods and practices since there are some guaranteed benefits like an improvement in soil health and water quality. These practices further assist in the reduction of soil erosion and also lead to enhanced biodiversity as well as drought resilience.
Faced with climate change eventualities that are mostly unforeseen yet capable of maximum damages, through the adoption of carbon farming, the farmers will be able to address climate change, land degradation, and food security issues that could be resolved on a global scale.
Even for the system of farming to be adopted effectively there have to be capacity-building processes rolled out by the various stakeholders, and private institutions in collaboration with the government.
These capacity-building forums and engagements aimed at educating the farmers on best practices will strengthen the embrace of the practice and its effectiveness.
