The world of regenerative agriculture is transforming!

It is crucial to recognize the potential of regenerative agriculture in restoring soil health and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to mitigate climate change.

One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by nurturing existing tree stumps and shrubs on our farms and continuing to take good care of them. Trees are essential as they are crucial to carbon sequestration from the atmosphere. They use this carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, producing food using sunlight and water to create glucose and oxygen.

Plants can store carbon for their entire lifespan. Even after they are cut down, they continue to decompose and add carbon to the soil, thus making it more fertile. A single tree offers many benefits, such as removing approximately 25-40 kg of CO2 per year.

Moreover, covering the soil with dry grasses and other plant materials has several advantages. It suppresses weed growth, adds nutrients in the form of organic matter, conserves moisture, and prevents erosion. By implementing these simple steps, one can imagine the exceptional produce that can be achieved. This is the power of regenerative agriculture and working in harmony with nature.

One of the fundamental principles of regenerative agriculture is to 'minimize soil disturbance.' Farming practices that involve the use of heavy machinery, such as tractors and power tillers, can have a detrimental effect on long-term soil health. Activities such as land clearing, tillage, plowing, and harvesting can negatively impact the soil's structure, composition, and fertility, which are crucial for crop production and development.

When soil is disturbed, its living organisms are also affected. It takes many years for soil to form, but it can be depleted in a short amount of time. Soil is a habitat for various creatures, including soil microbes, essential for decomposition and nitrogen fixation. Other creatures, such as earthworms, enhance soil aeration through their movements. By profoundly cutting into the soil and turning it over, we also bury organic matter mostly found on the topsoil, making it unusable for plants. This process can also cause moisture to evaporate into the atmosphere, resulting in dry and compacted soil that is poor in nutrients. These factors, among others, are crucial for crop growth and yield.

The issue of climate change and global warming is exacerbating the situation. Improper farming practices can increase carbon emissions, contributing to the greenhouse effect. The problem of land degradation is on the rise, and food security has become a global concern. Smallholder farmers, especially women in developing and emerging countries, are at a higher risk of being adversely affected by the consequences of climate change.

However, despite the lack of immediate solutions, there is still hope! Regenerative agriculture has the potential to reverse the daunting effects of global warming, improve production and productivity, and safeguard our landscape and environment. Furthermore, regenerative agriculture can relieve the burden on women and children, the most vulnerable to climate and food crises! In sub-Saharan countries like The Gambia, rural women work more than 40 hours per week while their male counterparts do not. Women and their children spend extended periods farming to provide food for their families.

When they return home, they collect firewood for cooking and take care of household chores. This situation reduces productivity and deprives their children of primary education and well-being. Let us work together to empower these hardworking women and ensure they and their families have the necessary resources to thrive!

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