The world’s food production systems face enormous challenges. Millions of farmers in developing countries
are struggling to feed their families as they contend with land degradation, land use pressures, and climate
change. Many smallholder farmers must deal with low and unpredictable crop yields and incomes, as well as chronic food insecurity. These challenges are particularly acute in Sub-Saharan Africa’s drylands, where land degradation, depleted soil fertility, water stress, and high costs for fertilizers contribute to low crop yields and associated poverty and hunger. Farmers and scientists have identified a wide range of land and water management practices that can address land degradation and increase long-term agricultural
productivity. The benefits of these improved land and water management practices to farmers and rural
economies include higher crop yields, increased supplies of other valuable goods such as firewood and fodder, increased income and employment opportunities, and increased resilience to climate change.