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Africa has probably 60% of the world's arable land and is extremely fertile. The cause of food shortages in Africa is never, even in the worst droughts, that th
by zosima 4y ago
Africa has probably 60% of the world's arable land and is extremely fertile. The cause of food shortages in Africa is never, even in the worst droughts, that there is not enough land.
Food crises in Africa are always, with I think, no exceptions, caused by 1. political turmoil that makes it impossible or difficult to use the land well, or 2. wars or 3. genocidal policies by one or more population or tribe toward another.
- TravHatesMe 4y ago4. Drought / lack of seasonal flooding?
- zosima 4y agoOf course droughts happen. But when unaccompanied by any of the three above, Africa still ought to be able able to feed itself with plenty to spare, even in the most severe droughts experienced.
- crazygringo 4y ago> Africa has probably 60% of the world's arable land and is extremely fertile. That is completely untrue. Looking it up [1], Africa has 219.2 million hectares of arable land as of 2007, compared to 1,406.5 million worldwide. That rounds up to 16%. I can't imagine where on earth you're getting 60% from. And if you've been to Africa (or looked at a map), you'd know that it's fertile only in certain parts. The cause of food shortages in Africa are very often that the land within economical transportation distance isn't producing even close to enough food in times of drought. And the idea that you bring up genocide as a major reason for famine is nonsensical. Quite frankly, you don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about. [1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/269235/arable-land-worldwide-by-region/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/269235/arable-land-world...
- zosima 4y ago1. One of the main humanitarian catastrophes recently was the famine in Darfur. Which was very much genocidal. 2. Africa and the world definitely has more arable land than what you're suggesting there: https://www.afrik21.africa/en/africa-arable-land-increased-by-52-in-20-years/ https://www.afrik21.africa/en/africa-arable-land-increased-b... Even statista (your source), claims that the total amount of arable land in Africa is 1119 million hectares: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1287280/agricultural-land-in-africa/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/1287280/agricultural-lan... We are speaking of Africa as a continent here. Obviously central Sahara can not sustain a very large population. (And coincidentally, neither has it). Are you sure you know what you're speaking of? PS. the 60% was from memory, and constitutes currently uncultivated arable land. The total arable land seems to be a somewhat lower percentage of earth's total (but your numbers are way off), but not meaningfully so with regards to my main point.
- nyokodo 4y agoThe World Economic Forum says Africa has 60% of global uncultivated arable land. [1] This might be what you remembered? Africa’s problem isn’t the availability of arable land it’s soil fertility. The soils in Africa are mostly bad to meh. [2][3] The less fertile the soil the more fertilizer inputs it needs to produce. 1. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/how-africa-can-feed-the-world/#:~:text=Africa%20remains%20a%20net%20importer,have%20struggled%20to%20keep%20pace https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/how-africa-can-feed-t.... 2. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/use/?cid=nrcs142p2_054024 https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/use/?... 3. https://www.isda-africa.com/isdasoil/?location=-17.741%2C-45.280%2C57.012%2C58.382 https://www.isda-africa.com/isdasoil/?location=-17.741%2C-45...
- tmnvix 4y agoOr 4. The pressure to grow cash crops to service debt.