AFSA Urges African Governments To Focus On Biofertilizers For Reviving Soil Health
NewsGhana
2024.05.10
The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa led a delegation of farmers and civil society organizations to the African Union Summit on Fertilizer and Soil Health, which was held in Nairobi from May 7 to 9, 2024. More than a thousand people from across Africa and around the world participated. The summit aimed to highlight the crucial role of fertilizers and soil health in driving sustainable pro-poor productivity growth in African agriculture and to agree on a 10-year fertilizer action plan and Soil Health in Africa, as well as the Africa Soil Initiative. The ten-year action plan aims to “significantly increase investments in the local manufacturing and distribution of mineral and organic fertilizers, biofertilizers and biostimulants” and to “triple fertilizer use from 18 kg/ha in 2020 to 54 kg/ha in 2033”.
Land degradation is increasing, with more than 20% of land already degraded in most African countries. Reported yield losses range from moderate to catastrophic (over 50%), depending on crop, soil type, climate and production systems, with most studies reporting significant losses (FAO).
Many African countries, including Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya, have reported that their soils are now acidified, due to intensive monoculture and prolonged use of fertilizers based on nitrogen.
All agree that mineral fertilizers alone are not enough. Africa is being pushed to triple fertilizer use, while European farmers are being pushed to use less to reduce carbon emissions.
The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa led a delegation of farmers and civil society organizations to the African Union Summit on Fertilizer and Soil Health, which was held in Nairobi from May 7 to 9, 2024. More than a thousand people from across Africa and around the world participated. The summit aimed to highlight the crucial role of fertilizers and soil health in driving sustainable pro-poor productivity growth in African agriculture and to agree on a 10-year fertilizer action plan and Soil Health in Africa, as well as the Africa Soil Initiative. The ten-year action plan aims to “significantly increase investments in the local manufacturing and distribution of mineral and organic fertilizers, biofertilizers and biostimulants” and to “triple fertilizer use from 18 kg/ha in 2020 to 54 kg/ha in 2033”.
Land degradation is increasing, with more than 20% of land already degraded in most African countries. Reported yield losses range from moderate to catastrophic (over 50%), depending on crop, soil type, climate and production systems, with most studies reporting significant losses (FAO).
Many African countries, including Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya, have reported that their soils are now acidified, due to intensive monoculture and prolonged use of fertilizers based on nitrogen.
All agree that mineral fertilizers alone are not enough. Africa is being pushed to triple fertilizer use, while European farmers are being pushed to use less to reduce carbon emissions.
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