AGRICULTURE AND MODERN FARMING

The year 2020 and beyond have been marked by a series of global crises that have had a significant impact on food supply. The Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, drought, locust invasion, and global energy crisis have all contributed to the disruption of food supply chains, reduced crop yields, and increased food prices. These crises have affected millions of people around the world, particularly those living in low-income countries. In this article, we will examine the impact of each of these crises on global food supply and explore the solutions that can help mitigate their effects. The Covid-19 Pandemic The Covid-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019, has had a profound impact on global food supply. The pandemic has disrupted supply chains, caused labor shortages, and led to reduced demand for certain types of food. The closure of restaurants, schools, and other institutions has also had an impact on the food market. With millions of people forced to stay at home, the demand ...

Introduction The global population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, creating enormous pressure on agriculture to produce enough food to feed the growing population. Climate change poses significant challenges to agriculture, as it causes more frequent and severe weather events, changes in precipitation patterns, and shifts in pest and disease dynamics. To meet the increasing demand for food, farmers have turned to agrochemicals, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, to boost crop yields and protect their harvests. However, the extensive use of these chemicals has raised concerns over their impact on human and animal health. This article examines the latest statistics on the dilemma of agrochemicals, highlighting the trade-offs between their benefits in addressing food insecurity and their potential harmful effects on humans and animals. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), BASF, Bayer, PI Industries, Monsanto, and FMC is referenced throughout the a...

 Introduction Food waste is a global challenge, and Africa is no exception. Despite the fact that millions of people in Africa suffer from hunger and malnutrition, a significant amount of food is wasted every year. This article will explore the issue of food waste in Africa, with a particular focus on the causes and consequences of food waste in shops, post-harvest, excessive buying by the rich, and poor storage.  Food waste in Shops One of the major causes of food waste in Africa is the retail sector. In many African countries, supermarkets and grocery stores throw away a significant amount of food every day. This food waste occurs for a variety of reasons, including overproduction, poor storage facilities, and a lack of demand for certain products. Overproduction is a significant issue that contributes to food waste in shops. Many food producers and retailers overproduce food to ensure that they have enough to meet demand. However, this often leads to excess food that goes u...

Since the millennium development goals were set in the early 90s, food insecurity has intensified in Kenya. The insecurity is not associated with war like most African countries, but sheer negligence and lack of proper strategy to curb famine and drought. Ironically, most of the people affected by food insecurity are the pastoralist communities and small-scale maize farmers in areas where they experience one farming season. These are the producers and if anything they should be the last to complain about the food. Laikipia which is one of the affected counties once held the pride of being a major producer of maize and animal product. In fact, Ng’arua division ranked somewhere near Trans Mara and Uasin Gishu. Mostly the farmers here have adopted early maturing maize varieties like Pioneer 30G19, Panna 3M and 520 however, the harvests have averaged ten bags per acre as a result of depreciating soil fertility. After harvesting in October and November, most farmers in Laikipia a...