{"id":19276,"date":"2022-03-21T04:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T03:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.gstic.org\/?post_type=story&p=19276"},"modified":"2022-05-11T10:10:14","modified_gmt":"2022-05-11T08:10:14","slug":"territorial-integration-and-agricultural-capacities-of-drylands","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.gstic.org\/expert-story\/territorial-integration-and-agricultural-capacities-of-drylands\/","title":{"rendered":"Territorial integration and agricultural capacities of drylands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Meeting regional food production needs is an almost impossible challenge in dry, arid climate zones, which exist in over 100 countries. Solutions for these areas are being sought through agricultural research and the adoption of ancient practices focussed on co-benefits of oasis ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historically, oasis food production would involve cultivation of 60-or-so different species. A practice which contributed both to biodiversity and diversity of diet. Today, however, in some regions this is now limited to just one or two plant species. The lack of food security in drylands due to their low percentage of arable land, compounded by the adverse effects of climate change, calls for changes in how these places are farmed. Re-engaging with traditional practices, in an adapted way, may be an effective solution for mitigating the adverse conditions being experienced today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Date palms are very beneficial to other types of crop production because they help create an oasis effect1<\/sup>. As well as providing shade, their leaves transpire relatively large amounts of water. This helps to cool the immediate environment, while increasing its humidity. Cultivating date palms alongside fruit trees helps protect more delicate crops, enabling production of fruit and vegetable species which are more sensitive to heat and water conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n