Despite its hot - in some places very humid, in others very arid - climate, Africa is not all just bananas and coconuts. With the right approach, one can grow potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, aubergines, onions, wheat, barley and maize even in such tough conditions. Since agriculture is one of the fastest growing sectors in many countries of the continent, the experience of Belarusian agrarians is very interesting and useful for Africans. And the first stage is soil preparation. Yuri Shashko, Director of the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus, who travelled to four exotic countries, knows African soil problems first-hand and has ideas how to tackle them.
In search of water
One should note above all that Africa is very diverse both in climate and soil structure. Northern countries are embraced by the sandy Sahara, where rains do not fall for a long time, and the temperature in the hottest spots can reach +60 degrees Celsius. Closer to the centre of the continent, the tropics begin with abundant rainfall and therefore, very humid air, which also affects the quality and composition of soils.
Nevertheless, one can grow crops and harvest good yields in both regions. For example, the problem with the perpetual sands of Africa is the lack of fresh water. However, scientists have long discovered a huge aquifer under the Sahara, and Africans have learnt to extract it. For this purpose, a well is drilled in most promising spots, around which a circular irrigation system is created. Here, the desired crops are planted. Over a single day, such a system can water an area of up to 10 hectares. Some projects include a storage tank, in which one can dissolve fertilisers, various additives, plant growth regulators.
This shows that Northern Africa has everything it takes to grow plants: plenty of light, heat more than enough, water and fertilisers. The sands are no longer hopeless: they only act as a substrate. This technology is used in Libya, Algeria, Egypt and other countries of the continent. Wheat, barley, alfalfa, corn are grown in such conditions. And in Libya e.g. the yield of wheat can reach 90 centners per hectare. According to Yuri Shashko, this is a good result.
“Artificial irrigation is an excellent solution for hot countries. Given the changing climate, sooner or later many countries will come to it, including Belarus. Nevertheless, when we travelled through Libya a few years ago, we found only 23 out of 153 artificial irrigation systems still working. About 20 more have been restored over the last two years. It is clear that the military and political situation in the country had an impact. Now that things have quieted down, the Government focuses on boosting the agriculture. Libya has the technologies and ambition to develop in this field. Fr om Belarus, they need help to explore deserts and create artificial irrigation systems, as well as our experience of growing crops in different conditions,” - says the Institute Director.
Algeria is also ready to invest in the agriculture development. Years ago it was Belarusian scientists who searched the hot sands for the most promising sites for wells drilling so that cereals and other crops could be grown there in future. The Algerians are set to continue the effort.
An era of revival
The situation in Equatorial Guinea is quite different. This small Central African state consists of a mainland part and islands wh ere the capital city Malabo is located. Here the climate, unlike in North Africa, is humid with abundant precipitation.
Belarusian scientists were in Equatorial Guinea as part of the government delegation in 2023 to study the conditions for agriculture. At that time, a Memorandum of Co-operation was signed, envisaging i.a. that Belarus would provide agriculture experts to help Guineans revive their own agriculture. Food security is a number one issue in this country now. The former Spanish colony, which gained independence only in 1968, practically does not produce its own products and is fully dependent on European imports.
In 1996, large reserves of oil and natural gas were found in Equatorial Guinea. Their extraction and subsequent sale led to an economic boom in the country. It was time to get into agriculture as well. But the problem is that, like the rest of Africa after the Europeans’ departure, Equatorial Guinea has lost the technology. For example, once it was among world’s largest suppliers of cocoa beans, but all the plantations that used to stand along the roads have now turned into jungle spreading all over the country.
Belarusian scientists took soil samples in both the mainland and the islands, and they did not prove to be very fertile. On the mainland the soil was also acidic, not quite good for growing plants.
One could well grow crops in the mountains of the island part of Equatorial Guinea, above the cloud level. Here the climate is closer to the European, so cabbage, aubergines, tomatoes, potatoes and onions that we are used to would feel quite comfortable. Some quantities of these crops are grown on the island, but seed production, selection and care of plants are not developed. Some farmers have plantations of watermelons, also with artificial irrigation. Belarusian scientists brought their own apple and strawberry seedlings to Africa as a trial.
Another challenge for the country is its rugged relief. For example, in the island part of Equatorial Guinea, no single plot has more than 2-4 hectares of smooth surface. The rest sits on all kinds of varying altitudes. And levelling work is very expensive.
Nevertheless, there is a Spanish farmer in Malabo who takes proper care of his land, and his vegetables, fruits and cocoa beans grow wonderfully against all odds. He even produces small quantities of his own chocolate. This shows that with the right approach, farming is possible even in the conditions of Equatorial Guinea. The big advantage is that in this country of eternal summer one can harvest crops several times a year, ensuring stable food security.
How can Belarusian experience come in handy?
Taking into account the soil and climatic peculiarities of Equatorial Guinea, its phytosanitary situation, Belarusian agrochemistry technologies can be adapted and brought to Africa. The locals are ready and willing to learn and master the culture of farming. And without effective crop farming one cannot expect returns fr om livestock farming.
In Belarus, the problem of acidic soils was resolved by applying dolomite powder, available thanks to a domestic deposit near Vitebsk. One could try the same technology in Equatorial Guinea, but wh ere to get the dolomite powder? Bringing it over fr om Belarus would be very expensive, costing much more than the product itself.
Therefore, Yuri Shashko thinks it necessary to look for local solutions. If complex fertilisers can be brought here from Cameroon and South Africa, then there must be some minerals suitable for agriculture on the African continent. Algeria has its own phosphorus deposit. Equatorial Guinea itself probably has deposits of potassium, judging by its presence in the soils in large quantities. But such places need to be found and explored, and the potassium itself must be extracted and processed.
At one time, supplying Belarusian complex fertilisers to Libya's Benghazi was considered. The shortest possible route lies by road to Novorossiysk, then by sea through Istanbul and past Athens. Delivering one ton of goods in this way would cost around $400, and this is only until North Africa. Taking it onwards is much more expensive. Therefore, Yuri Shashko suggests establishing closer cooperation with African logistics centres, wh ere our goods would arrive and then head on to other countries.
Despite logistical difficulties, trade with Africa is ongoing. Our tractors, combine harvesters, seeders arrive en masse in Zimbabwe, the most promising of all the countries the scientist saw with his own eyes. And what Africans (and not just Zimbabweans) need, is the simplest possible machinery: easy controls, no cabins and complex electronics, and the cheaper the better. Make it rough and tough to last against the harsh African climate and terrain. Some of our manufacturers already make such vehicles, and there is a huge market waiting for them out there.
In addition, Belarusian scientists proposed to their Guinean colleagues to set up their own agrochemical laboratory which could be used to transfer agro-experience.
“Unfortunately, we are unable to survey the whole territory of Equatorial Guinea. It is very costly to send our experts there, then bring soil samples over to Belarus, study them and select the right technologies here. Therefore, we agreed that the Guineans would build themselves a laboratory, and we would teach them how to work the land,” - says Yuri Shashko.
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