The noticeable loss of biodiversity and effects of climate change are currently taking a serious toll on cotton cultivation south of the Sahara with the declining biodiversity decreasing soil fertility and therefore lower yields, says a survey by Cotton made in Africa (CmiA).
THE SURVEY: The survey was carried out in July 2024 by the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), in cooperation with the Aid by Trade Foundation, through six focus groups in Zambia.
- The group of CmiA small-scale farmers consisted of 46% men and 54% women; of this total, 66% have lived in the area since birth and 34 percent for 10–20 years.
MAIN FINDINGS: The loss of biodiversity is clearly noticeable in rural Africa.
- Deforestation, poaching, and the expansion of settlements have severely affected many wild animals, even leading to the extinction of some species, and fuelled many conflicts between humans and wildlife;
- There is a problematic water shortage in the rivers.
- In the past, good results could be achieved without fertilisers, but today this is more challenging. Bush fires and the use of herbicides have reduced the presence of useful soil organisms such as earthworms, which help to break down organic material.
In the discussion groups, farmers describe the various methods they use to observe changes in the fields and the environment.
- For example, the lack of certain fungi in the forests indicates that biodiversity has decreased;
- Changes in soil structure and colour also indicate poorer soil quality;
- the proliferation of certain weeds, such as witchweed and ragwort, is an indication of changes in the biological balance.
- There’s also climatic fluctuations, such as unusually high or low temperatures and irregular precipitation patterns.
Declining biodiversity influences fields, decreasing soil fertility and leading to lower yields.
MEASURES TO PROMOTE BIODIVERSITY: The small-scale farmers involved in the six group discussions clearly made the point that the way in which their cotton fields are managed has a significant impact on soil health and biodiversity in their surroundings.
- This is why small-scale farmers use crop rotation or integrated pest management for their fields in addition to limiting the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides to a minimum and substituting organic alternatives whenever possible.
- To conserve soil quality, they avoid tillage, and to increase it, they apply compost and organic fertilisers such as cow manure.
- The promotion of sustainable practices for more climate and environmental protection in agriculture has been enshrined in the Cotton made in Africa standard for many years, and these values are shared with small-scale farmers through regular training courses.
- Through these and similar training programmes, CmiA primarily aims to increase small-scale farmers’ resilience against the effects of climate change and to improve their livelihoods in the long term.
WHAT THEY SAID:
The discussions focussed on addressing challenges and solutions together with farmers in Zambia. Our overall goals are to stop the decline in biodiversity and to increase the resilience of small-scale farmers in Africa through comprehensive measures that actively involve people in the growing regions.
— Nina Schöttle
Project Manager (Monitoring and Evaluation)
Aid by Trade Foundation
