Don't blame the tools #2: Coming out of the Maize

This mini-series in my blog is dedicated to looking at how the use of 'water-efficient' and 'water-suitable' or 'regionally-appropriate' crops used can increase food security across Africa. 

For those who do not have the means to irrigate crops, rainfall is the primary means of getting water to crops. Uneven distribution of rainfall exposes crops to a range of rainfall variability, which potentially affects crop yields. Mitigation against variability and reduced rainfall periods are limited, and tend to be dependent on soil water capacity, crop water demand, crop water uptake and freshwater/ groundwater availability (Barron, et al. 2003). 

Across much of Sub-Saharan Africa, the crops in question tend to be Maize (figure 1). Maize is a widely popular staple crop across Africa and globally relied upon, due to its climate, soil and salinity versatility. Furthermore, Maize is a great crop for semi-arid parts of the world as it can withstand reduced water supply for 15 days before having a significant impact upon overall yields (Barron, et al. 2003).

Figure 1: dominant grain production across Africa
(adapted from Yam-Bar, 2013)

Therefore it is generally agreed that the use of Maize is appropriate across Africa, due to its water efficiency and high yield (Barron, et al. 2003; FAO, 2015). 

This would normally be the end point of this blog series, as a range of sources indicate that Maize is a highly appropriate crop for the region give its low water consumption and high tolerance of almost all factors. As Maize is a wide spread and heavily relied upon crop across Sub-Saharan Africa, it is a very researched crop and the future success of Maize in light of climate change has been examined. 

A team from Princeton University studied rainfall and evaporation trends from 1979-2010 to understand how changes would impact Maize yields. They found increases in water availability during the Maize growing season, with some regional variability (Figure 2 (Blue is an increase in water availability over time, red is a decrease)). The research accounts for 34% of all Maize across Africa, and provides a means to examine where water stress might occur and mitigation strategies are required. 

Figure 2: Water availability during Maize growing season
 (Estes et al., 2014) 

Work has gone into solving or mitigating against the issues of water availability in East Africa through development of water-efficient crops. WEMA is a public-private partnership who's goal is to develop and distribute water efficient and insect resistant Maize to stabilise yields and improve food security (WEMA, 2012). Although ethical and environmental issues are prevalent in selective breeding of crops, it insures future availability and sustainability of Maize and food security in the face of climate change.

Maize is not just an important staple crop. In South Africa, the price of Maize has significant influence over civil unrest whereby increases in global and national prices of Maize has triggered labour and xenophobic riots and violence (Yam-Bar et al., 2013). Although Yam-Bar (et al., 2013) comprehensively explores the relationship between civil-unrest and food prices, prices of food tend not to be the initial trigger factor in civil unrest (Deininger, 2003).

The importance of Maize in Africa must not be ignored. It is widespread, adaptable, and an important socio-economic pillar in various cultures and regions across the continent. However, future reductions in water availability in East Africa and continent-wide population could impact food security if mitigation strategies are not implemented.