Only 20 per cent of Kenya's soil fit for cultivation

A new report has raised concerns over the state of agricultural soil in Kenya, revealing that only 20 per cent of the country’s soil is suitable for food production.

The Soil Atlas 2025, Kenya Edition, unveiled by the Heinrich Boell Foundation (HBF) in Nairobi, highlights the alarming state of the soil health and its critical impacts on food and nutritional security.

The report shows that over 40 per cent of East Africa’s soils are degraded, which poses a severe threat to agriculture, food security and livelihoods across the region.

In Kenya, the situation is dire, with only 20 per cent of croplands being arable, and an alarming loss of up to 26 tonnes of soil per hectare annually due to soil erosion. Additionally, soil salinisation affects 40 per cent of irrigated land, further jeopardising sustainable food production.

Heinrich Boell Foundation Director Joachim Paul expressed grave concern over the condition of soil in Africa.

“Soil is the foundation of life, yet it remains one of the most overlooked and undervalued resources. Its health influences the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Protecting soil is not just an agricultural concern, it is essential for sustaining ecosystems, food security, and climate resilience, particularly in Africa,” Mr Paul said during the launch.

The report also points to the significant impact of soil degradation on Kenya’s agricultural productivity, rural livelihoods and social inequalities.

It attributes the decline of soil health to overuse of synthetic fertilizers, monoculture farming and deforestation, all of which have led to declining soil fertility, erosion and desertification.

Alarming data in the report shows that 63 per cent of arable land is affected by acidity, 80 per cent of soils suffers from phosphorus deficiency and 75 per cent of Kenya’s soils have depleted organic carbon levels.

The report states over-reliance on fertilizers alone is not the solution to Kenya’s soil health crisis, as studies suggest that increased fertilizer use does not always result in better agricultural yields.

The 2024 African Soil Health and Fertilizer Summit acknowledged the need for holistic solutions, yet industrial players continue to push for increased fertilizer use. Policies must support sustainable farming practices like agroecology to restore soil fertility.

Harun Warui, the Lead Programme Coordinator, Agroecology and Food Rights at Heinrich Boell Foundation highlighted agroecology as a sustainable alternative to conventional farming.

“Agroecology offers a path forward by integrating biodiversity, soil management, and organic inputs,” Warui said.