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Hydroponics in Africa: Navigating Solutions and Challenges for Sustainable Agriculture

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What are Hydroponic Systems? Whilst researching hydroponics, I found an article which advocates for using hydroponics to increase African food production and reduce land degradation. In this post, I will critically analyse the article which positions hydroponics as Africa’s solution to food scarcity. Hydroponics are seen to be the future of farming. Traditional farming is both labour and space intensive and is struggling to increase yields despite the use of fertilisers and pesticides ( Boylan, 2020 ) . Comparatively, hydroponics substitutes soil and fertilisers with carefully controlled soil-free growth mediums and artificial lighting tailored to the needs of each crop. Crops are grown in vertical stacking systems, optimising space, increasing productivity, and minimising environmental impact ( Boylan, 2020 ) . Solving Africa’s Food Challenges The article rightly points out the benefits of hydroponic systems in addressing issues of food production. Hydroponic systems will significantl...
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Contrasting Experiences of Water and Food Scarcity in Northern Ghana and Accra

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In this blog post, I draw upon my personal insights as a Ghanaian to compare experiences of water and food scarcity in Northern Ghanaian Regions and Ghana’s capital Accra. Insecurity and Regional Divides Persistent and unequal water and food scarcity characterise Ghana. The majority of agriculture is rain-fed, with under 1% of cultivated land being irrigated, emphasising Ghana’s vulnerability to water scarcity in agriculture. Variable water access can be attributed to the legacies of colonial development which prioritised Accra’s water infrastructure development over other regions, a problem that has persisted due to post-independence political instability ( Harris, 2021 ).  With Ghana becoming increasingly urbanised, additional strain on urban water and food supplies makes it crucial to understand experiences of water and food insecurity across Ghana ( Akparibo et al., 2021 ).  Water and Food Scarcity in Northern Ghana Hunger and water insecurity are most prevalent in Nort...
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The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: A Critical Examination in the African Context

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As a geographer, I value holistic problem-solving. I’m intrigued by the WEF Nexus approach, a useful approach to addressing water and food scarcity in Africa which recognises how water, energy and food management intertwine (see Figure 1). It encourages efficient resource use and management nationally and regionally, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals . Figure 1: The Nexus approach In this blog post, I will share my thoughts on the benefits and challenges of a nexus approach in Africa. WEF Nexus Benefits Simpson et al’s (2023) work linking WEF Nexus scores to Human Development Index (HDI) scores demonstrates the main benefit of the approach. Figure 2: The WEF Index measures access to and availability of water, energy and food on a scale of 0-100 The correlation found in high HDI and WEF Nexus Index nations like South Africa and Gabon shows how sustainable water, food and energy access aids development. A nexus approach also encourages optimising regional streng...
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Irrigation: Senegal’s Solution to Water and Food Scarcity?

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Senegal, located in West Africa, is home to extensive wetlands and lakes as well as four major aquifer systems ( Faye et al., 2019 ). Despite this apparent abundance of water sources, Senegal faces a water crisis. During the dry season, water becomes   scarce and Senegal has been unable to effectively tap into its groundwater to increase agricultural irrigation. Predictions indicate a   30-60% increase in water demand by 2035 , exacerbating water scarcity and hindering Senegal’s ability to support its growing urban population. Figure 1:  Senegal is a tropical coastal Africa nation with Dakar as its capital Irrigation is often heralded as Africa’s solution to food scarcity and with only   3-5%   of Senegal’s land being cultivated by irrigation, irrigation projects could be the solution to its water and food crisis. In this blog post, I explore the opportunities and challenges that irrigation presents to Senegal, concluding with my proposed solutions to the nat...
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Exploring Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors Causing Water Scarcity and Famine in the Horn of Africa

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According to the United Nations, a region experiences  famine when a significant proportion of the population are unable to access adequate food, leading to widespread malnutrition, disease and death. Figure 1: The five phases of the International Food Security Phase Classification system Famines in East Africa can be explained by both climate-related and anthropogenic causes and in this blog post, I will examine the contributing factors to famine in the HOA to determine which factor is more significant. Environmental Factors: Water Scarcity and Climate Change For thousands of years, the Horn of Africa (HOA), composed of Africa’s easternmost nations including Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, has experienced recurrent famines. An unprecedented La Niña   weather event in 2022 recently brought prolonged heat waves and famine to the area. The drought had a devastating impact on local populations with pastoralists being particularly vulnerable to water scarcity. Kenyan pastoralists ...
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