Research On Agriculture In Semi-Arid Regions

Abstract

There is need to extend agriculture in the semi-arid regions of Africa. It can only succeed if special methods and crop plants are used. We suggest that an assessment of our present knowledge on these points and of the directions in which research should proceed is desirable. Lines of research indicated are studies by plant physiologists and soil physicists on water-soil-plant relationships and by plant-breeders on drought-resisting or -evading grain plants and grasses. Certain initial work bearing on both has been done by the East African Agriculture and Forestry Research Organisation and a programme on the former is being planned. Con- currently, technological research will be needed on new or existing dry-land experimental stations. The world demand for food and living space is everywhere increasing the pressure on the marginal agricultural lands. Among these are the vast, empty "semi-arid" regions which cover so much of Africa. It has often been suggested that these semi-arid regions should be used for agriculture; and the idea is attractive since they often have high average annual rainfall by comparison with some regions where agriculture is successfully practised.