New Delhi, March 11 -- More than 40 per cent of East Africa's soils are degraded, with climate change and soil erosion posing a major threat to agriculture and food production in the already food-insecure region, according to a new report.

As per Soil Atlas Kenya Edition, the case in Kenya is worse, with only a fifth of the croplands arable. Describing it as a silent crisis in East Africa, the report says, "Soil degradation poses a global crisis as it jeopardises food security, livelihoods and ecosystem health. The situation is worse in East Africa, where over 40 percent of soils are degraded, threatening the region's agricultural foundation and resilience".

In some cases, like Kenya, the situation is worse. Croplands lose an average of...