Soil health is at the core of agricultural productivity and ecological balance but has been highly compromised in Eastern and Central Africa through unsustainable land management practices, deforestation, and over-exploitation with chemical fertilizers. This study critically explores the current levels of soil degradation in these regions and the effectiveness of conservative agriculture in mitigating its impacts. Drawing on case studies from Kenya and Zambia- both countries that are highly representative of the varied agro-ecological landscapes of Africa-this paper discusses organic fertilization, agroforestry, and conservation tillage, which are some practices that show promise for soil fertility restoration, crop yield improvement, and the well-being of rural livelihoods. Others include such sustainable practices that have been underpinned by recent empirical studies reviewing their efficacy in improving the indicators of soil health, which include organic matter content, microbial activity, and soil structure. They have also contributed broadly to food security and climate resilience. The findings emphasize the need to promote such regenerative methods through targeted policy intervention and community-based initiatives. The focus of this paper is on the interface between soil health and sustainable agriculture through an in-depth framework that tries to enhance agricultural resilience and ecological sustainability amidst current environmental and socio-economic challenges in Eastern and Central Africa.

Soil health, Sustainable agricultural practices, Zambia, Kenya, Soil regeneration

agronomy

Presentation: poster