Forty three percent of land area in Africa falls within the dry lands. It is estimated that 45 percent of the population (325 million people in Africa) live in these areas, which despite their  high  potential  for  agriculture  with plants  &  animals  adapted  to  climatic  variables (heat  resistance,  lack  of  water), abundant  resources  (mines/oil/water),  diverse ecosystems  (tourism,  wildlife,  etc.),  vast landscapes ready  to  be  developed  and  many unsustainable development programmes, are prone to land degradation, desertification, frequent  recurrent  drought,  hunger  and  emergency  assistance  as  well  as  now insecurity.

Between  1985  and  2000,  Africa  lost  25  million  hectares  to  desertification,  60  million hectares  to  salinization and  50  million  hectares  to  soil  erosion,  which  impacted the continent’s ability to guarantee food security for its growing population, to consolidate its development gains and to maintain peace and security. 

Land  degradation  is  an  underlying  cause  of  acute  poverty  and  social  deprivation  in many  rural  areas  of  Africa as  well  as  a  major  cause  of environmental  deterioration, poverty and food insecurity. 

Dry land zones; where 70 percent of the population derives their livelihoods from natural resources are characterized by a predominantly hostile  and marginal environment due to; low farm productivity (below 2.1%), high temperatures and radiation; water scarcity, unreliable  rainfall  patterns; barren soils; land  degradation,  desertification, neglect  from central governments, among others. As land forms the basis of wealth and prosperity of any  given  society,  it  should  be  protected  and  developed  for  the  benefits  of  the  rural communities  and  our  continent, must  continue  to  maintain a strong  stand  on  land degradation and desertification.

Due  to  misconception, Dry  lands  are  assumed  to  be  wastelands  with  little  or  no potential, they  are  neglected  and  considered  to  play  marginal  role  of  the  economy  of national  government.  Regardless  of  their  capacity  to sustain  agriculture (majority  of crops),  agroforestry, animal  production  (90%),  livelihoods  of  its  inhabitants,  great potential for tourism development and mining, Dry Lands remain distant geographically from  administrative centers.    Hence,  they  lack  basic  services  (health,  education, agricultural  and  veterinary)  and  infrastructures  (schools, markets,  rural  road), among others,  and  attract  attention  only  when  the  communities living  those  areas  require supplies of food aid, or some mineral are found. 

Dry  lands are  under  constant  threat  from  multiple challenges and stresses such  as weather  variability,  recurrent and  unpredictable droughts, floods  caused  by  short and heavy intervening rains) and human-induced processes including; land degradation and desertification  caused  by inadequate  and unsustainable  land  use practices,  which are fuelled by demographic pressure, high dependence on subsistence rain-fed agriculture, lack  of  employment,  terrorism and  civil  conflicts.  These challenges and stresses are often compounded by external forces to the areas; such as inadequate governance mechanisms, ineffective land tenure systems and poorly conceived national policies. 

Land  is  under  increasing  demand  and  pressure  from  competing  uses  such  as agriculture,  forestry  and  pasture  as well  as  energy  production,  urbanization  and extraction of raw materials. As other regions of the world turn to Africa, looking for the energy,  water  and  food  resources  needed  to  regenerate  and  power  their  economies, Dry  land  areas may  be  primary  target  of  land  acquisitions by  powerful  interest. We therefore must ensure that the continent’s God  given  and abundant  natural resources are  by  priority,  harnessed  to  catalyze  the  continent’s  sustainable  economic development. African  countries  must  reverse  the  general  perception  that  natural resources  are  a  curse  rather  a  blessing,  when  well  managed  for  the  benefits  of  our populations (some developing countries have shown the way).

Unless  we  undertake  practical  measures  to  ensure  that  our productive  lands  are preserved, degraded  lands  restored  and essential services  are  provided  to  the communities, the  specter  of  social  deprivation  in  dry  lands  will  continue  unabated and we will continue to witness the breakdown of social fabrics of many rural communities in Africa.  This  phenomenon  is  leading  to  increased  rural–urban  migration, intensifies  the immigration  of  the  youthful African population to seek  economic  opportunities abroad with  many  serious  social  and  economic  ramifications and leaving  Dry  land  areas  to terrorism/lawlessness.  This  had  serious  implications  for  the future  (hopelessness, lawlessness,  many  young  people  are  dying  while  migrating), overall  stability  and security (ethnic conflicts and terrorism) of the Africa continent.

There is a strong correlation between increased agricultural productivity, food security, general security and sustainable land management in Africa.  It is an undeniable fact that agriculture cannot thrive in Africa if we don’t pay due attentions to dry land issues. Sustainable land  management in  dry  lands is  fundamental  to  the pursuit  of  food security, peace, security and stability in Africa.

By H.E. Mrs. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace
Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union.