Review of sustainable agriculture and food systems in Africa

Abstract

Although Africa has the world’s largest arable land; the farming system is dominated by smallholder farmers. Africa's agriculture performance is characterized by poor technological inputs, low production, a traditional farming system, inadequate credit services and facilities, poor infrastructure, and market instability. In addition to frequent hydro-meteorological and biological hazards, the encroachment of the rangeland by invasive species, and currently COVID-19 has become a serious challenge to African agriculture and its food system. Sustainable agriculture is considered a remedy for land degradation, water scarcity and pollution, market fluctuation, and food insecurity. Hence, African nations should introduce and promote sustainable agriculture to improve the performance of the sector and reduce its side effect on the environment. Therefore, Africa nations should implement various types of sustainable agriculture practices such as permaculture, biodynamic, hydroponics and aquaponics, urban agriculture, agroforestry, and food forests, natural pest management, etc depending on their ecological, economic, and social settings and minimize the application of synthetic chemicals to increase production.