Feeding Africa: Intro to the Relationship Between Food and Water🥫

Upon picking a topic, food and water instantly stood out to me since thoroughly enjoying previous modules such as Human Ecology and Thinking Geographically II. It is imperative that I start by comprehending the larger context before I investigate the complex interaction between food and water in Africa (Thompson et al., 2000). 

Water is essential to maintaining food security. Its management, availability, and quality all have a direct impact on agricultural output. But the relationship between water and food in Africa is more intricate than irrigation or rainfall; it involves a number of political decisions, socioeconomic considerations, cultural norms, and environmental shifts (Khan et al., 2022).

Africa faces a number of difficulties in this area. The stakes are significant, ranging from the impending threat of climate change, which alters rainfall patterns and water availability (CARTER and PARKER, 2009), to political conflicts that may cause disruptions in the distribution of food. Furthermore, the growing urbanisation and population put a strain on the resources already in place, necessitating creative fixes and sustainable practises.

But unlike what may be portrayed in Western media, difficulties are not always prevalent. I will admit having written academically about Africa before perhaps I have made assumptions and generalisations that I shouldn't have. Reading Binyavanga Wainaina's article 'How to Write About Africa', opened my eyes to factors I may have never considered before reading. This strongly developed my personal viewpoint on how to write about sensitive topics such as Africa, below I have devised an 'action plan' (Figure 1) that I hope may help others with their blogs!

Figure 1: Action Plan of Writing More Fairly About Africa

Building on this, Africa offers a wealth of options to combat these issues. Such as using contemporary technology (e.g. GM crops and bore holing) and indigenous wisdom together which can open the door to sustainable farming methods. Initiatives for managing water resources in the community have the potential to equitably improve local food security. Moreover, the continent's enormous untapped groundwater resources have the potential to completely transform its agricultural system (Lapworth et al., 2017).

We'll cover a wide range of subjects in the upcoming weeks, including the socioeconomic effects of water distribution, the politics surrounding large-scale irrigation projects, and the use of groundwater in agriculture. I intend to clarify the nuances of this relationship and provide guidance for the future of a well-fed and affluent Africa through this blog series.

                                    Figure 2: "I Drilled a Water Well in Africa!"

I encourage you to participate, leave comments, and share your thoughts as I build on this blog! In particular please watch the above video (Figure 2) and let me know your thoughts in the comments, I personally believe what Ruhi is doing is fantastic, watching it first hand with no media like prejudices and seeing how grateful the locals are is really heart-warming.