World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. This day is an international day to celebrate soil and was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002. World Soil Day (WSD) creates an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, fighting soil salinization, increasing soil awareness and encouraging small-scale farmers to improve soil health.
As small-scale farmers in Uganda and beyond, we join the global community in commemorating the World Soil Day 2024 under the theme: "Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage." This theme resonates deeply with us, as we depend on soil health not only for our livelihoods but also for sustaining resilient and equitable food systems.
Soil is the foundation of life, and its health is crucial for climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture. However, the alarming rate of soil degradation in Uganda and East Africa threatens the ability of small-scale farmers who interact with the soils daily to produce food and safeguard our ecosystems. With 46% of Uganda’s land degraded (The Uganda National Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Report) and the region losing 5 to 12 tons of topsoil per hectare annually (Report on land degradation from the African Union’s Agenda 2063), urgent action is required to reverse this trend.
Small-scale farmers, who manage over 80% of Uganda’s farmland, face declining soil fertility that undermines their productivity. Uganda’s annual nutrient loss, valued at $625 million, and fertilizer use at only 2.5 kg/ha/year compared to the global average of 135 kg/ha/year, are stark indicators of this crisis. Climate change further accelerates soil degradation through erratic weather, floods, and droughts, deepening poverty and food insecurity.
To address this crisis, We, the small-scale farmers under our umbrella movement, ESAFF Uganda, make the following calls to action:
Government of Uganda and EAC must prioritize agroecological practices such as agroforestry, and regenerative agriculture among others. These practices enhance soil organic matter, build resilience to climate change, and create sustainable farming systems.
Agroecology should be at the core of national agricultural policies, harmonized with global frameworks like the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) goals. Investments in agroecology will scale its adoption and combat soil degradation.
Governments and partners should support farmer field schools and community-led knowledge exchange programs. These initiatives empower farmers with practical skills in sustainable soil management.
Farmers need affordable and sustainable soil-enriching inputs such as organic fertilizers, biochar, and compost. Subsidies and incentives should be introduced by government to small-scale farmers to promote these materials.
We urge the Ugandan government and the EAC to accelerate the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration on Fertilizer and Soil Health. This declaration emphasizes farmer-led solutions and sustainable nutrient management, rooted in agroecology.
Uganda and East African governments must involve small-scale farmers in translating LDN commitments into actionable programs. Policies addressing soil degradation must recognize farmers as central to land restoration.
Commitments under the Soil Health Resolution must prioritize investments in technologies and practices that regenerate soil ecosystems, critical for food security and climate resilience.
For the past years, ESAFF Uganda has held trainings on soil conservation as well as documenting best practices through which we can preserve our soils and avoid depletion. As small-scale farmers, we envision a future where soils are valued as a critical resource for food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
On this International Soils Day, we reaffirm our commitment to stewarding soils and call upon governments and other stakeholders to stand with us in cultivating a healthier planet. Let us honor the theme, "Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage" by taking bold steps to restore and sustain soil health, ensuring resilient food systems for generations to come through appreciating agroecology. Together, we can achieve Land Degradation Neutrality and create a future where farmers thrive, ecosystems flourish, and humanity prospers.
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