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OPINION

By Robert Kigongo

Sometime back, my wife and I were having argumentative nights since the daily allocated money for food known as Kameeza was no longer enough to buy meals due to the rising commodity and food prices.

Thus, I opted to buy food items from Nakasero Market in Kampala, but I was shocked to find out that sh20,000 can barely buy much.

The increasing food prices are becoming a great concern for many.

According to experts, land degradation, soil health decline, biodiversity loss, and climate change contribute to a shortage of all-season food, low-quality agro products, and low production.

As a family man who buys food and other agro products, I feel the pinch at home. The greatest threat to crops, livestock, and the ecosystem is decreasing soil health.

Thus, my immediate concern is to rally Ugandans to restore our soils to solve food insecurity, which can lead to malnutrition, land conflicts, family breakups, and inflation. Healthy food is grown in soils, which contain 25% of the planet’s biodiversity.

Humans need soil to survive, yet our activities have degraded it. Plants, animals, and people get oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon from the soil.

The greater Masaka region was formerly the food basket of East Africa, but today, bananas no longer yield well due to the loss of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, also known as NPK, from the soil.

Bananas, maize, Irish potatoes, beans, coffee, and millet need nutrition to flourish and generate healthy food. Naturally, soils contain variable levels of macro and micronutrients.

Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium are primary and secondary nutrients that help plants grow by regulating energy metabolism and protein synthesis.

Iron, boron, manganese, molybdenum, chloride, zinc, copper, and noel are micronutrients that help plants develop and resist pests, weather, and pathogens.

Nutrition, food, fibre, fuel, carbon sequestration, climate regulation, habitation, flood regulation, pharmaceuticals and generic resources, human infrastructure, and aesthetic values are all promoted by healthier soils.

Pesticides and hybrid seeds have been overused in the central region and elsewhere to meet yield needs, causing soil nutrient imbalance and acidity.

Landslides, landtaking, strong rains, water logging, and floods have eroded soil in Elgon. Decades of soil cultivation have caused organic carbon alteration and nutritional imbalance.

Urban rural trash incorrect disposal and sodium chloride salted water have salinated and sodified our soils. Oil and petroleum products like plastics have also polluted our soil.

Soil pollution in the country’s waterways is largely caused by transboundary Lake Victoria basin pollution.

Armyworms and other invasive species tend to damage commercial adornment trees, scrubs, and crops.

Scientifially and environmentally, every action reacts, and pollution affects soil functioning;

Soil contamination degrades soil, threatening ecosystem functions;

1. Soil contamination reduces crop yields and organic matter inputs.
2. Residential, agricultural, and recreational applications are unsuitable for polluted soils.
3. Decreased vegetation and flood control. 
4. Antimicrobial resistance and genetic resource loss.
5. Higher greenhouse gas emissions cause climate change.
6. Limitations on buffering and filtering.
7. Nutrient imbalance from soil biodiversity changes and nutrient loading.

Unfortunately, our soil health is poor in the central, north, and eastern regions, impacting farming communities.

Our farmers in greater Masaka and Gomba work hard, but make little money due to soil contamination and bad soils.

The causes of soil pollution are now understood, and remedies exist to revive and regenerate soils for a healthy planet and people.

Although 70% of Ugandans are farmers, just 2% sample their soils before planting. Our ecological journey to revitalise soils relies on soil sampling to determine what crops and fertilisers work best for your area.

To assess soil nutrients and make nutrient management decisions, sample and test soil. Some nutrients benefit from frequent soil sampling, whereas others prefer less frequent sampling.

Our farmers throughout the spectrum can know the type of soils, NPK levels, optimum crops for land, and optimal fertilisers by routinely testing soil.

The main crops in Masaka and Gomba changed from bananas to pineapples and coffee after soil testing. Change in practices and use of inorganic fertilisers is crucial; organic, cleaner fertilisers may reduce pollution.

Trees are essential for land restoration, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, water regulation, flood control, and soil erosion control.

In Sironko and Mbale districts in Elgon, huge tree growth to span erosions has boosted arable land, regulated floods, and regulated climate. Stopping soil tillage for a certain time, growing environmentally friendly grasses and cover crops that restore nutrients are needed.

We need proper regulation of new fossil fuel projects that make petroleum products to avoid adverse impacts. Proper garbage, petroleum, and sodium salt disposal prevent soil contamination, salination, and solidification.

In Ggaba, a city suburb, the local communities are learning to decompose garbage into biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials, preserving soil from plastic pollution.

Without a doubt, healthier soils will safeguard our environment, restore biodiversity and ecology, strengthen food security and improve livelihoods.

Environmentally, soil revival requires land restoration, greenhouse emission reduction, and fossil fuel elimination. Ultimately, a deliberate approach to the restoration of land and soils benefits nature, people, and a stable climate.

The writer is an environmentalist, climate change crusader and nature-based business practitioner