The center for Agroecology and Soil health notes that the rangelands are increasing being opened up to extensive crop production. This pressure threatens the fragile and deteriorating rangelands ecosystems ability to serve its natural needs. More than 40% of Kenya’s arable soil is delabidated. This reality is a mirror of the soil health status in the larger region.
The impact is hard hitting to the agricultural practising communities. Traditional threats such as lower yields & incomes are becoming more reoccurring. There are new threats too. The search for new fertile lands is proving unsustainable. The new rangelands land rush in non Traditional farmlands areas threatens the ecosystems integrity including disruption to biodiversity.
Wildlife grazing lands are shrinking. As people jump from one leased parcel to another, more tonnage of soil is left degraded. Agroecology practices must be encouraged to sustain the productivity of traditional agriproduction lands & protect rangelands ecosystems. That’s at the heart of the center day to day work