Water and Food in Africa

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...

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...

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...