African leaders endorse action plan to boost fertilizer production and soil health

The leaders made the declaration in Nairobi during the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit, graced by Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat. 

The summit, held against the backdrop of persistent challenges in Africa's agricultural landscape, including low fertilizer consumption, soil degradation, and vulnerability to climate change, culminated in the adoption of the Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan and the Soil Initiative for Africa

Central to the summit's agenda is the ambitious goal of tripling domestic fertilizer production and distribution by 2034. 

"We commit to triple domestic production and distribution of certified quality organic and inorganic fertilizers by 2034 to improve access and affordability for smallholder farmers," reads the declaration in part.

The tripling of domestic fertilizer production will entail actions such as prioritizing local production and blending of mineral fertilizers using locally available raw materials as well as strengthening research and development on the utilization of inorganic and organic fertilizers by resuscitating the African Centre for Fertilizer Development in Harare.

The declaration also emphasizes the importance of soil health restoration, with a commitment to reverse land degradation on at least 30% of degraded soil by 2034.

The leaders committed to deploy innovative incentive mechanisms - including repurposing current subsidy programs - to encourage soil health investments by smallholder farmers.

In addressing financing challenges, the summit calls for the full operationalization of the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM).

"We commit to fully operationalize the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) to improve production, procurement, and distribution of organic and inorganic fertilizers, and soil health interventions," said the leaders.

In his address at the summit, President William Ruto emphasized the critical need to address challenges hindering agricultural productivity and food security in Africa.

President Ruto highlighted the persistent reliance on food imports in Africa despite its vast arable land, attributing this to issues such as inadequate fertilizer application, climate adversities, and land degradation. 

He outlined key priorities for the summit, including prioritizing investments in nitrogen fertilizer production, real-time tracking of fertilizer market trends, and enhancing last-mile logistics for distribution. 

"It is encouraging to see several African nations making strides in fertilizer production, particularly phosphate fertilizers. However, the absence of nitrogen fertilizer production plants, due to high capital requirements, underscores the need for regional investment collaboration to enhance our self-sufficiency in fertilizer manufacturing," said Ruto.

He stressed the importance of sustainable subsidy programs and production incentives to support both immediate productivity needs and long-term soil health.

"We need sustainable strategies to make fertilizers more affordable and accessible. Enhancing last-mile logistics for fertilizer distribution is equally critical. Moreover, building farmers' capacities for effective fertilizer use and soil health improvement is imperative," President Ruto added.

On his part, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi emphasized the critical importance of prioritizing land and soil management in Africa to enhance agricultural productivity and combat food insecurity. 

He underscored the need for African Union Member States to implement strategies that focus on improving soil health and increasing the effectiveness of fertilizers while mitigating their impact on climate change.

"Africa must prioritize its land and soil to enhance agricultural productivity and tackle food insecurity. It's crucial for the continent to improve soil health while addressing fertilizer's impact on climate change," said Mudavadi.

He added; "All African Union Member States should implement strategies to enhance fertilizer effectiveness and support farmers in meeting agricultural production goals."

As the summit concluded, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the proposed action plan and called upon the African Union Commission and AUDA-NEPAD to support Member States in its execution.