Land degradation is defined as "a negative trend in land conditions caused by direct or indirect human-induced processes, including anthropogenic climate change, expressed as long-term reduction or loss of at least one of the following aspects: biological productivity, ecological integrity, or value to humans" (IPCC, 2019). Another definition by FAO, land degradation is defined as a change in the soil health status resulting in a diminished capacity of the ecosystem to provide goods and services for its beneficiaries (FAO, 2014). Hunger: craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient. In other word, an uneasy sensation occasioned by the lack of food, Finally, hunger is a weakened condition brought about by prolonged lack of food (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hunger) Hunger is an uncomfortable or painful physical sensation caused by insufficient consumption of dietary energy( FAO,2024, (World Bank, 1986)) (Clay, 2002).
Food security: exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food favorites for an energetic and healthy lifetime (World Food Summit 1996) (FAO 2008).
Food insecurity : A person is food insecure when they lack regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life. This may be due to unavailability of food and/or lack of resources to obtain food(FAO, 2020).
Land degradation poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity and food availability in Sub-Saharan Africa. Depending on the extent of the degradation, it could experience a temporary or permanent decline in its ability to support the human food supply (Gupta, 2019). Indeed, if land fertility is more pronounced, food supply disruption will become more frequent posing the issue of food insecurity in Sub-saharan Africa.
According to (https://www.worldvision.org/hunger-news-stories/africa, 2022, FAO 2022), an estimated 20% of the population is undernourished in Africa, with 57 million more people facing hunger since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, they estimated 868 million people experienced moderate to severe food insecurity in Africa in 2022, with over one-third of those facing severe food insecurity
According to World Bank, 2022, at least one in five Africans goes to bed hungry and an estimated 140 million people in Africa face acute food insecurity, according to the 2022 Global Report on Food Crises 2022 Mid-Year Update.
According to WFP, 2024, Nearly 55 million people in West and Central Africa will struggle to feed themselves in the June-August 2024 lean season, according to the March 2024 Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis released by the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS).
This are the mains problems of Africa according to (Wijnand Klaver, 2015).
- high population growth rates (a burden because the cake has to be divided among more people);
- a young population (which could potentially offer an economic dividend in the coming decades);
- a high percentage of food produced by women (many of whom are poor but very resourceful);
- a highly diverse ecology (which poses particular challenges in terms of an agricultural ‘revolution’);
- an increase in potential and current conflicts around competing claims (e.g. pastoralists versus farmers, food versus biofuel, water for food versus water for export flowers);
- microclimates and climate change (which will lead to certain areas becoming ‘bread baskets’ and negatively impact on others that will become virtually uninhabitable);
- evolving institutional and governance structures; and
- certain food habits (shaped by tradition but strongly influenced by cosmopolitan trends).
According to IPBES (2018), it is caused by natural and anthropogenic direct drivers, which are influenced by indirect drivers. As natural causes driving land degradation, we can quote earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, floods, landslides, typhoons, and recurring outbreaks of pests and pathogens (IPBES, 2018). They happen episodically with periodicities ranging from years to millennia (Angaman & Niang, 2023). Concerning the anthropogenic direct causes, they are directly linked to human activities and range from local to regional or global scales posing serious threat to food security.
According to Díaz et al. (2015), indirect drivers represent the fundamental root causes of land degradation. These drivers originate from how human societies operate, organize themselves, and engage with nature across various levels. Indirect drivers are typically external to the specific ecosystem being studied. As example, IPBES (2018) quotes demographic factors, economic activities, sciences, knowledge and technology, institutions and governance, and cultural aspect as indirect drivers of land degradation.
Land degradation has a significant impact on food security. It reduces agricultural productivity, decreases crop quality, and limits access to arable land. It reduces also water availability and increases the prevalence of invasive species which are harmful to the growth of crops (Abdeta & Geleto, 2018). In this regard, land degradation should be stop in order to have good soil to cultivate crops for effective food production. Education, changes in policies, use of technology for meaningful innovation are vital to be considered to restoration of degraded land and future land degradation. The fertility of the soil is greatly diminished by land degradation, resulting in reduced agricultural productivity. Soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and the loss of soil organic matter impair the land's capacity to support crop growth, leading to decreased yields and availability of food. Several studies, such as those conducted by Chalise et al. (2019), Ceesay & Ben Omar Ndiaye (2022), and Perspectives (2023), have confirmed this correlation.
Another consequence of land degradation is the reduced access to arable land. As land becomes degraded, farmers face limitations in finding suitable land for cultivation, which hinders their ability to produce enough food for themselves and their communities. The works of Makurira (2011), UNCTAD (2015), and Keringingo & Kayakayacı (2023) provide support for this claim.Livestock production and grazing areas are also affected by land degradation. Degraded pastures lead to a shortage of fodder for livestock, negatively impacting their health and productivity. As a result, the availability of animal-sourced food products such as meat and dairy is diminished, further contributing to food insecurity. This is contrary to the findings of Weber & Horst (2011), Ceesay et al. (2021), Feltran-Barbieri & Féres (2021), and Macheroum & Chenchouni (2022). Water resources are adversely affected by land degradation as well. Decreased water holding capacity of soils, increased runoff, and reduced groundwater recharge contribute to water scarcity and poor water quality.
These factors hamper agricultural activities, limit irrigation, and lead to lower crop yields and food production. Studies conducted by WHO (2002), UN (2007), and Chemical Releases Associated With (n.d.) support these findings. Land degradation can also initiate a negative feedback loop, whereby degraded land contributes to climate change and climate variability. In turn, climate change exacerbates land degradation through more frequent and intense droughts, floods, and extreme weather events, further compromising agricultural productivity and food security. Similar conclusions have been drawn in the study by Midler (2022). Understanding the multifaceted relationship between land degradation and food security is crucial for devising comprehensive strategies to address these challenges. By considering the various impacts described above, policymakers and stakeholders can work towards sustainable land management practices that ensure long-term food security for Sub-Saharan African countries and beyond.
Research question: What is the impact of land degradation on food security in Sub Saharan Africa?
Objective: The overall objective of the empirical model is to examine the relationship between land degradation and food security indicators, such as crop yield, land productivity, GHGE (greenhouse gas emission), food production, and rainfall.