Physical Geography of Africa Answers

Africa’s climate is closely related to the problem of malnutrition because large areas of the continent, especially North Africa, the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and parts of southern Africa, are arid or semi-arid. These regions receive little or unreliable rainfall, so farmers often face drought, short growing seasons, and poor crop yields. Tropical wet-and-dry regions also depend on seasonal rains, and a failed rainy season can lead to food shortages. Consequently, people may not have enough nutritious food, increasing malnutrition. Poverty, conflict, poor transportation, and limited access to clean water and health care can make the effects of climate even worse.

Two major environmental challenges facing Africa are desertification and water scarcity. Desertification degrades farmland through drought, overgrazing, and unsustainable farming. Water scarcity results from drought, uneven rainfall, pollution, and increasing demand. Water scarcity needs the most immediate attention because access to clean water is essential for health, sanitation, farming, and preventing famine.

Gold and diamonds are two of Africa’s most abundant mineral resources. Africans may be prevented from benefiting economically by foreign control of mining, corruption, armed conflict, poor transportation and energy infrastructure, limited local processing, and unfair trade agreements. These factors can cause profits to leave the continent while local communities receive few benefits.