Addressing Soil Acidity and Enhancing Soil Health: Recommendations for the use of lime and other conservation measures
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Soils in East Africa are inherently acidic, which affects agriculture, and over 60% of arable land is now degraded, posing risks to sustainability, food security, and livelihoods. Urgent interventions are needed to address this issue.
Key findings in this report highlight that the application of agricultural lime, when paired with broader soil conservation measures, such as those embedded into integrated soil fertility management, has the potential to tackle soil acidity and increase soil health. To effectively reach farmers in high-priority areas, a holistic and short-term approach is proposed in this document, laying the groundwork for future scaling of interventions.
Coordination among stakeholders is crucial, especially those involved in the lime value chain. Collaborative efforts between various actors will enhance resource utilization and support the widespread adoption of sustainable soil management practices. Furthermore, the private sector plays a vital role in establishing robust lime value chains.