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There is a strong link between the state of the environment and
food production, apart from the natural environment being the
entire platform upon which all life is based. For crops, the state
of the environment directly influences soil nutrient availabil-
ity, water (ground and surface water for irrigation), climate and
weather (rainfall and growth season), availability of insects for
pollination, and not the least, the abundance and effects of cer-
THE ROLE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN FOOD PRODUCTION
tain pests, such as pathogens, insects and weeds, which have ma-
jor impact on crops worldwide, particularly in Africa (Sanchez,
2002). Without these services, there would be no production,
Ecosystem services enhance agro-ecosystem resilience and sus-
tain agricultural productivity. Thus, promoting the healthy func-
tioning of ecosystems ensures the sustainability of agriculture as
it intensifies to meet the growing demands for food production.