1961 Canada: A record 101 pound lake trout was caught in Lake Athabasca. Saskatchewan.
CREDIT – foodreference.com
Crossing the hurdle of Desertification by Afforestation
Over the years, Agriculture in Africa has been plagued by desert encroachment, deforestation and unplanned agriculture. This has led to the gradual disappearance of semi-arid lands, such as grasslands or shrublands.
According to history, the word ‘desertification’ originated from a French botanist André Aubréville’s 1949 work on African rainforests, though a study argues that it may even be traced back to the 19th-century French colonial North Africa. Talks of desertification in Africa began when the Comité d’Etudes commissioned a study to explore the prehistoric expansion of the Sahara Desert, which was obviously due to natural occurrences at the time. The phenomenon has existed in Africa for thousands of years and isn’t new.
However, with societies developing and human activities rising, desertification has worsened considerably in recent decades.
It is no longer news that Africa is home to one of the world’s most famous deserts, the Sahara, which is growing at a rate of 48 kilometres per year. Desertification and the expansion of deserts were not initially due to human-induced climate change, as they are nowadays. The world’s greatest deserts formed through natural processes interacting over many years, such as the evaporation of water, upward winds, the descent of warm air and low humidity.
The European Commission’s World Atlas of Desertification posited that more than 75% of the Earth’s land has already degraded. Unsurprisingly, the majority of desertification is due to climate change from the destruction caused by extreme weather events, such as droughts and fires. Reports from the United Nations Development Program’s Drylands Population Assessment II, disclosed that arid lands account for two-thirds of the African continent and three-quarters of Africa’s drylands are used for agriculture.
The United Nations (UN) also observed that more than 24 billion tons of fertile soil erode annually due to desertification, which can happen for various reasons. The most common are deforestation, poor agricultural and livestock practices, including overexploitation of natural resources. Desertification has a massive impact on the environment, including loss of biodiversity and vegetation, food insecurity, increased risk of zoonotic diseases (an infectious disease transmitted between species) such as COVID-19, loss of forest cover and shortages of drinking water due to the loss of aquifers.
Unfortunately, human activity has more recently come to either grow or shrink these deserts. To put human contributions into perspective, the Sahara has been growing rapidly since the 1920s, covering 10% more land than it used to, according to a study by National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded scientists at the University of Maryland (UMD). The modern study of desertification that we are familiar with today, which considers climate change, emerged from studying the 1980s drought in the Sahel region, which is inarguably the most vulnerable region on the continent.
The Sahel lies between the Saharan Desert and the Sudan Savannah. It is a 3,000-mile stretch of land that includes ten counties and is under constant stress due to frequent droughts, soil erosion, and population growth, which has increased logging, illegal farming and land clearing for housing.
The 1980s drought is not the first human-induced event that affected the Sahel region. The desert has historically experienced a long series of droughts, but one of the most significant is the Sahelian drought and famine of 1968. It lasted until 1985 and was directly linked to the death of approximately 100,000 people and the disruption of millions of lives. Human exploitation of natural resources (such as overgrazing and deforestation) was originally believed to be the sole cause behind the drought. Still, it has been suggested that large-scale climate changes also triggered the drought.
Despite being the most affected area in Africa, the Sahel is not the only region dealing with desertification. Some of the most affected areas include the Karoo in South Africa, which has endured semi-arid conditions for the last 500 years, Somalia, which has suffered three major drought crises in the last decade alone, and Ethiopia, with 75% of its land affected by desertification and a major famine between 1983 and 1985. With desertification becoming a more significant problem each year, these consequences will only increase if nothing is done to curb the climate crisis.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been very active in studying and developing arid areas for some time. The integrated management of natural (and particularly plant) resources in arid areas has been pursued in multiple programs: baseline studies on arid areas since the 1950s; an integrated programme to develop the Mediterranean area in the early 1960s; numerous studies and programmes in the 1970s and 1980s, notably the FAO/ Unesco programme evaluating and mapping desertification (1979), the inventory and monitoring of pastoral ecosystems in the Sahel (particularly in Senegal), a study on soil degradation (FAO/UNEP/UNESCO 1975), and the EMASAR Programme (International Cooperative Programme on the Ecological Management of Arid and Semi-Arid Rangelands in Africa, the Near East and Middle East); finally, numerous programmes developed during the last 30 years, with the UNDP or under trust fund sponsorship, to control wind erosion and sand movement at the national and regional levels.
Forest Trees to the Rescue
The multi-purpose utilization of woody species and formations conditions policies and particularly rural development programmes in arid areas. A strategy has gradually taken shape, particularly after the incidence of drought in a number of areas and both regional coordination, such as the CILSS/UNSO/FAO Consultation on the Role of Forestry in a Rehabilitation Programme for the Sahel (1976) and the Green Belt Project in North Africa, and intra-regional and global coordination such as the United Nations Conference on Desertification (1977), FAO’s Expert Consultation on the Role of Forestry in Combating Desertification (Saltillo, Mexico, 1985) and the Silva Conference organized by France (Paris, 1986) together with FAO and the EEC.
The emerging strategy is based on: i) a recognition of the role of forestry in arid areas with due consideration of the different ecological, social and economic factors; ii) a framework of principles (integration, diversification of activities, recognition of the role of each plant storey, the return of forest benefits to the local communities), objectives and priority areas for action.
The objectives are mainly to sensitize all interested parties to the importance of tree and forest resources in the sustainable use of the natural resource base; to consider natural resource conservation and enhancement in national development plans; and to channel greater and more varied natural resource management benefits to the local communities.
The Tropical Forests Action Programme (TFAP) has confirmed and consolidated these objectives in its respective components for the control of desertification, the conservation of watersheds in arid areas, the production of wood-based energy and agro-silvo-pastoral integration. Recent developments confirm the need for the integration of forest resource management in arid areas in actions to promote sustainable agricultural development, the conservation of biological diversity and integrated land management.
FAO’s recent programme, “the Conservation and Rehabilitation of African Lands”, recognizes the impact of deforestation and degradation of tree and shrub cover in arid areas on the degradation of African lands and prioritises actions for the management of forest resources and plant rehabilitation to control desertification.
This strategy is reflected in FAO’s forestry activities in arid areas. Within the framework of its regular programme, it supports national institutions about planting techniques, the improvement of trees and woody species genetic resources in arid areas; it operates related information exchange networks with the regional and subregional organizations; it publishes case studies, guidelines and handbooks on agro-forestry and the contribution of trees and shrubs to agricultural production in arid areas, on the development of fuelwood resources and the enhancement of soil fertility, water use and watershed management.
In conclusion, information and experiences related to arid-area forestry are exchanged through FAO’s statutory bodies, particularly the Regional Forestry Commissions for Africa, the Near East and Europe and their joint “Silva Mediterranea” Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions, with its five technical cooperation networks.
Flooding And The Future of Nigeria’s Food Security
Floods are synonymous with rainy seasons and can be very unpredictable. This is due to the uncertain nature of where the excess water overflow could come from. Several factors have, over the years, triggered heavy flooding in Nigeria even when the rains may not be heavy.
In Nigeria, the rainy season often brings bad news. As the rains grow heavier and more frequent, both the government and citizens are gripped by the fear of flooding. Numerous areas have already suffered from floods, with varying degrees of damage to infrastructure and tragic loss of lives.
Very recently, devastating floods have hit several agrarian regions of Nigeria, resulting in significant losses. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in 2024, flooding affected 7.5 million people across 18 countries in West and Central Africa. Chad was the hardest hit, with 1.9 million people affected, followed by Niger (1.5 million), Nigeria (1.3 million), and DR Congo (1.2 million).
Haruna Markus is a farmer based in Mokwa, in Niger State, Nigeria, and recounted his losses after a bridge collapsed .” I have a vegetable farm where I survive after being retrenched from my previous job. This particular farm provides me with tomatoes, peppers, and various vegetable crops. I couldn’t go close to the raging flood when I saw it sweep across my farmland at high speed.
“I only prayed in my heart that when it flows away into the river that something should be left for me to feed my family with. This did not happen. As I speak, my farm is like a football field as I just planted again, but still afraid the floods will come again. We need the government to help us.”
Another respondent, Alhaji Gambo, who supplies yams to Ibadan, Lagos, and other cities in Nigeria, lamented the huge loss from the flood.
‘ A night before the unfortunate incident, a truck had arrived from Jebba to convey some orders for me to Lagos. I had just escorted him to a welder who helped him fix up a damaged part of his truck. The next day, we woke up to see our storage farm overtaken by flood, and not a single yam was seen either floating or heaped. I can’t imagine how I feel right now. This situation applies to most of my friends, too.
“Government should please come to our aid as farmers because some of us will be forced to sell at excessive prices to cover up some loss,” he concluded.
By July 2025, approximately 129,000 people had been impacted by floods in the Central African Republic, the Congo, Nigeria, DR Congo, and Ghana.
These floods have severely disrupted livelihoods and basic social services. In Nigeria and the Central African Republic alone, at least 5,300 houses have been destroyed or damaged, 3,800 of which are in Nigeria. Over 5,300 hectares of farmland have also been affected, posing serious threats to food security.
Since the onset of flooding this year, at least 361 people have died, while up to 600 people, especially farmers and families, remain unaccounted for following deadly floods that swept through Mokwa, Niger State, last month.
According to the latest UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction, “disaster costs now exceed $2.3 trillion annually when cascading and ecosystem costs are taken into account.”
NiMET recently warned that Sokoto State faces a high risk of flash floods. Other states with notable risk are Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom.
Residents in these states have been advised to evacuate, if necessary, clear drainage systems, prepare emergency kits, turn off electricity and gas during floods, strengthen mudslide prevention measures, and promote community awareness. Children should be kept at home whenever flooding is observed along their routes to school.
Despite collecting over N620 billion in ecological funds over 14 years to support environmental sustainability and disaster management, states have failed to protect their communities from the ravages of flooding.
A June 2025 report by SBM Intelligence revealed that since July 2024, floods have inundated 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states, affecting roughly 1.2 million people. The deluge has destroyed an estimated 180,000 hectares of cultivated farmland, delivering a severe blow to the country’s agricultural productivity.
Policy lapses have worsened the problem, particularly concerning the yearly release of excess water from dams within Nigeria and the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
Overflows from dams remain a critical issue, alongside ongoing challenges of coastal erosion and flooding.
Agreements to construct mid-level dams to contain excess water from the Lagdo Dam have yet to be implemented.
The Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency and state emergency management agencies, must brace up for the upcoming floods to prevent further loss of lives and property in 2025 and beyond. Flooding is a seasonal challenge that demands proactive planning by governments and their agencies.
Relief centres should be established for those displaced by flooding, with clear plans to return them to their homes as quickly and safely as possible.
While many residents of low-lying areas may resist evacuation, government and aid agencies must take necessary interventionist measures to save lives.
Nigeria must build resilience with support from willing development partners to significantly mitigate flooding. Town planning and proper drainage control are essential for creating liveable built-up environments.
States like Lagos have long struggled with violations of setback regulations meant to protect drainage systems.
State and local governments have a duty to Nigerians to ensure regular environmental sanitation and promote proper refuse disposal by citizens.
Observers say the future of the agricultural sector in its fight towards attaining food security may be dealt a great blow if measures are not put in place against flooding.
Crashing Onion Prices in Nigeria: Producers Deny Impact of Niger Republic Imports
The National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) and the Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa (ORO/WCA) have refuted as misleading a recent report alleging that massive onion imports from the Niger Republic are responsible for falling prices in Nigeria.
In a joint statement issued in Sokoto on Sunday, the associations described the report as “false, unfounded, and unsupported by any credible trade or market data.”
The bodies emphasised Nigeria’s dominance in onion production within Sub-Saharan Africa, asserting that the country remains a net exporter of onions—not an importer—especially to neighbouring countries like Niger Republic.
“Nigeria’s domestic production far exceeds that of Niger Republic, which actually depends on our supply during its lean seasons,” the statement noted.
To expatiate their position, the associations presented current market price data revealing that importing onions from Niger is commercially unviable.
“As of July 2025, onions in Niger Republic cost between 35,000 to 50,000 CFA (₦95,000 – ₦135,000) per bag, excluding transport and duty costs. Meanwhile, prices in Nigeria range from ₦90,000 to ₦100,000 per bag,” they explained.
The groups stressed that such pricing patterns clearly demonstrate that the alleged influx of cheaper onions from Niger is economically unrealistic.
Recalling a similar market scenario from March 2025, the statement added that while Nigerian onions sold for ₦40,000 per bag at that time, Nigerien onions were priced at 15,000 CFA (about ₦50,000), further debunking any narrative of cheaper imports flooding Nigerian markets.
Rather than foreign imports, the associations identified internal factors—such as seasonal production cycles, inadequate storage infrastructure, and local supply-demand dynamics—as the real causes of onion price volatility in the country.
The groups expressed concern over what they called “sensational journalism” that threatens to distort public understanding and policy around Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“We urge reputable media houses like The Guardian to verify facts with recognised stakeholders before going to press. Such inaccuracies can damage the integrity of our agricultural value chain,” the statement warned.
In a related note, NOPPMAN and ORO/WCA commended the Federal Government, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), for ongoing interventions aimed at supporting onion farmers, especially those affected by recent floods.
Looking ahead, the organisations reaffirmed their commitment to expanding onion production through modern storage systems, processing facilities, and stronger market linkages to ensure long-term food security and economic development.
They called on policymakers, researchers, and the public to rely on data from credible sources such as NOPPMAN and ORO/WCA when engaging with agricultural trade issues.
“As the backbone of onion production in the region, we remain committed to transparency and collaboration in advancing Nigeria’s agricultural prospects,” the statement concluded.
Kenya’s Forgotten ‘Weeds’ Now Dominating Vegetable Menu
Indigenous leafy vegetables, which were once overlooked as wild weeds and a “poor man’s food” in Kenya are now becoming much more common – grown on farms, sold in markets, and gracing the menus of restaurants,BBC reports.
At the busy Skinners Restaurant in Gachie just outside the capital, Nairobi, one employee says demand for “kienyeji” – as all local vegetable varieties are known – is higher than for other greens.
“Many people ask for kienyeji when they come here,” Kimani Ng’ang’a tells the BBC, despite the fact the restaurant charges extra for them as he says they are harder to source.
Vegetables like cabbage, spinach, kale, and spring greens, introduced by colonial authorities before the 1960s, are more readily available and cheaper. Spring greens are known as “sukumawiki”, meaning “stretch the week” in Swahili, reflecting how they have become a daily staple.
But diners in Gachie are part of the growing wave of Kenyans who see the benefits of eating local, organically produced nutrient-rich varieties of greens.
“It detoxifies the body and is good for weight loss,” says James Wathiru, who ordered “managu” – or African nightshade.
Another person told me: “It’s all about its taste, which is better.”
According to horticulture professor Mary Abukutsa-Onyango, this trend is reflected in government data and some of the health benefits are backed by research
Over the last 10 years, production of local greens has doubled – with 300,000 tonnes produced by local farmers last year, she says.
It is a remarkable change in attitudes, given people used to look down on traditional crops as inferior – not realising they were often more resistant to diseases and pests, meaning they can be grown organically.
In the 1980s, when Prof Abukutsa-Onyango began her studies, she says she was perplexed to find them referred to as “weeds”.
“We never learnt about African indigenous vegetables. They were calling amaranth ‘pigweed’ [and] spider plant, they were calling it ‘spider weed’,” she tells the BBC.
Her postgraduate research on traditional plants was also tricky as there was no literature about them, but she persevered and now works with the government to promote them for food security.
She says managu and other local vegetables like “mrenda” (jute mallow) and “terere” (amaranth) have more essential minerals than sukumawiki, as well as “higher levels of vitamin A and C [and] antioxidants” that boost immunity and reduce the risk of disease.
Some varieties also contain protein, making them an excellent option for vegetarians. She notes for instance that 100g (3.5 ounces) of mrenda – known for its distinctive slimy texture when cooked – contains more nutrients than a similar portion of common cabbage.
The progress people like Prof Abukutsa-Onyango have made in promoting the diversity and knowledge of indigenous vegetables was acknowledged by Unesco in 2021, when the UN cultural agency commended the East African nation for the “safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage” that had been threatened by “historical factors and the pressures of modern lifestyles”.
It noted that Kenya had begun a project in 2007 involving scientists and local communities to record an inventory of traditional foods, which now includes 850 indigenous plants and their local names.
Some of these vegetables are consumed nationwide, while others are more regionally specific or associated with particular communities.
But sukumawiki, first introduced to Kenya from the Mediterranean as animal feed, is still favoured by many farmers, with more than 700,000 tonnes produced in 2023 – more than double the volume of all indigenous leafy vegetables combined.
Francis Ngiri, who used to farm in Kirinyaga in central Kenya where cabbages are a mainstay crop, explains that this is because, especially during the 1970s, those growing imported leafy vegetables used fertilisers and pesticides that damaged the local biodiversity.
Today, he tells the BBC, only the introduced varieties thrive as the soil has become too acidic to support many native species.
CREDIT – BBC
