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Scientists root for agro-ecology
Zachary Makanya, the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Kenya, country co-ordinator.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
What you need to know:
- Agro-ecology provides farming techniques that use locally available inputs such as animal manure.
- Farmers are rich in indigenous knowledge on sectors such as seeds, which can be of great use especially amid climate change.
- Excessive use of agrochemicals is impacting negatively on human health and the environment.
Scientists are rooting for agroecological farming approaches to build affordable and resilient food systems.
They note that small-holder farmers can mitigate the impacts of climate change if they embrace agroecology principles, which include a diversified farming system that targets long-term sustainability of the environment and social livelihoods, leading to the production of safe and sufficient food.
