As Dr. Diouf points out, Africa has enormous land resources. Water is more
problematic. There is a very large part of Africa that is dry and getting
drier. A significant contributor to this drying process, and to the
failure of much existing irrigation, is the enormous infestation of aquatic
weeds in your lakes and streams. Water Hyacinth, water lettuce, water
fern, Typha (my favorite - it is a GREAT crop), Phragmites and other weeds
clog your rivers and reservoirs, causing flooding and aggravating drought.
The huge infestation of Typha in what used to be Lake Chad is one of the
dessicating influences expanding the Sahara southward. All of these weeds
can be made into fuel. Some of them can be made into food. Just their
clearance would free up a great deal of water for your use. Their harvest
would be probably be profitable even separated from the value of their
clearance, and certainly in combination. The environmental side effects
would include a reduction in malaria. Harvest these nuisances. Eat what
is fit for human consumption, and make the rest into ethanol.
As Dr. Diouf points out, Africa has enormous land resources. Water is more problematic. There is a very large part of Africa that is dry and getting drier. A significant contributor to this drying process, and to the failure of much existing irrigation, is the enormous infestation of aquatic weeds in your lakes and streams. Water Hyacinth, water lettuce, water fern, Typha (my favorite - it is a GREAT crop), Phragmites and other weeds clog your rivers and reservoirs, causing flooding and aggravating drought. The huge infestation of Typha in what used to be Lake Chad is one of the dessicating influences expanding the Sahara southward. All of these weeds can be made into fuel. Some of them can be made into food. Just their clearance would free up a great deal of water for your use. Their harvest would be probably be profitable even separated from the value of their clearance, and certainly in combination. The environmental side effects would include a reduction in malaria. Harvest these nuisances. Eat what is fit for human consumption, and make the rest into ethanol.