Promoting Low-Input Agricultural Practices to Improve Marginal Lands for Sustainable Crop Production and Food Security in Sub-Saharan African Countries

This book chapter discusses approaches to promoting low-input agricultural practices to improve marginal lands for sustainable crop production and food security. Agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa is lower than in different parts of the world, attributed to many factors such as climatic conditions, soil quality, pests, and diseases. The projected increase in population in the sub-Saharan countries is estimated to reach 4.3 billion by 2100, which has made it urgent to resort to strategies to meet the growing demand and avert food insecurity. The promotion and adoption of agricultural practices presented in this chapter delineate the contribution to marginal lands. The practices include conservation agriculture, crop rotation, and cover cropping, intended to integrate and facilitate improved nutrient uptake through different mechanisms for marginal soils. This chapter highlights the benefits of sustainable agricultural practices, including the potential for improved crop performance, soil health improvement through cover cropping and stimulating nutrient uptake, and improved crop productivity.