As far as I can trace back, my ancestors all used to provide people with food through farming. However, as traditional agriculture requires clear land and is generally monoculture, I am concerned about desertification due to the removal of deeply rooted plants and nutrient depletion in the soil as a consequence of monoculture. This is a serious problem to me as my family has ancestrally depended on the land. If the once fertile soils disappeared, then my family and many other families may ultimately be deprived of the food that used to be available in abundance. To circumvent such a grim future, action must be taken. Perhaps we could inform people on how the land may transform after clearing away the native foliage. They could incorporate endemic flora back into the farmland to help preserve the initial composition of the soil and reduce the risk of desertification.
The image above is a picture of my grandparents' home and a monoculture of crops can be seen in the pen.
I think you bring up many great points in this post! However, I am just curious, what mechanisms would you use to inform others about the negative consequences that clearing away native foliage can bring? I feel like many people are still stubborn in practicing the same agricultural practices, so trying to persuade them may prove to be difficult.
Hi R! I love your ancestral connection to farming which really highlights the urgent need to address desertification. How do you think communities, especially those with deep agricultural roots, can collaborate to raise awareness about the risks of monoculture and promote the reintroduction of endemic flora for sustainable farming?