Raphael Magambo A Rocha Kenya 14 th October 2014

 By 2050, the world will need 70% more food than we are producing today to feed it’s population  Africa will however need to double it’s food production by  Land degradation and climate change pose the greatest challenges in improving crop yields in Africa.  In response most farmers result to opening more land for farming with minimal results  In the near future, farming could be the greatest threat to forestation in Africa.

Farming crisis in Africa?

What natural services do farmers get from ecosystems?

Ecosystem services: Pollinators!

Ecosystem services to farming: Pollinators Wasps Bees

Ecosystem services to farming: Pollination & seed dispersal Humming birdsSunbirds

Biodiversity Education: Bird ringing

Biodiversity education: farmer groups training

Biodiversity Education: Env. Education with schools

GENESIS 2: 9 “ And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food”

Farming God’s Way: High nutrition trees

Moringa Oleifera

Moringa stenopetala

Moringa species Stenopetala. Cannot withstand too cold weather.Grows less fast.Broader leaves and deep greener.Seeds purify water better. Produces seeds at 3 years Oleifera.Can grow in colder areas than Stenopetala.Grows faster.Smaller rounded leaves.Seeds can also purify water.Produces seeds in 8-12 months

Trees and evergreen agriculture

Faidherbia albida 150 mature trees per ha can give equivalent of 50t/ha per year of cow manure or 300 kg of NPK fertilizer Seeds have 20.6% protein and 40.1% carbohydrates Trials with millet under the tree: 2.5 fold increase in yield and 3.4 fold increase in protein content in seeds.

Medicinal trees: Margaritaria discoidea

Medicinal trees: Cordia africana

Soil Fertility: Fertilizer teas

Pest control: Shrubs and trees