African Ministers for Agriculture and other stakeholders are meeting in Kenyan capital-Nairobi to interrogate alarming decline in Africa’s soil fertility and health.
The situation has since birthed a problem of low productivity hence forcing stakeholders to come together to highlight the crucial role of fertilizer and soil health in stimulating sustainable pro-poor productivity growth.
The stakeholders including ministers, ambassadors and technical teams will also agree on an African Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan, as well as the Soils Initiative for Africa during this two-days summit which began yesterday.
According to Uganda’s Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) Frank Kagyigi Tumwebaze, this summit is crucial as members will share concerns regarding the future of our agriculture and food security.
He noted that as members, they all recognize that agriculture remains central in the continent’s growth and poverty reduction.
Citing Uganda’s case, Tumwebaze said the agricultural sector employs close to 70% of the population, contributes about 24% of GDP, 40% of Uganda’s exports and also 60% of the raw materials for industries.
“But we cannot think about agriculture without talking about soil and fertilizers and that’s why we’re here today. The theme of the summit is ‘Listen to the Soil’. We must pay attention to the soils; to a understand them to know what they need” the minister who also led Uganda’s delegation to the summit said as he addressed the members.
Tumwebaze who is also the current AU Chair of the Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture said he was happy that the summit which initially had been planned for hosting last year but failed was finally taking place during his tenure.
He said listening to the soil is important because it would enable countries give them (it) what it wants in order to cater for the current and future generations.
“During this summit, let’s think about those good practices and techniques that can be availed to farmers to manage their soils better especially practices that will increase organic matter content in our soils” he noted.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SUMMIT
According to AU, Africa is experiencing widespread decades-long decline in soil quality of farmland, a situation that is negatively impacting agricultural production capacity and food security on the continent.
AU notes that the decline in soil health has hindered the efficiency of fertilizer use and hampered agricultural productivity growth, food security, and environmental sustainability across the continent. As a result, economic growth and well-being particularly for the rural population, who derive their livelihoods directly from agriculture in the continent have been hampered.
“It is therefore, timely to review the state of Africa’s soil health to recalibrate the strategies being deployed for boosting the productivity of soils towards higher and sustainable gains in crop yields as well as economic growth and transformation, and overall well-being” Says African Union adding that this summit is expected to endorse a 10-year Action Plan which will deliver concrete recommendations for steps to be taken by African leaders and stakeholders over the next 10 years.
The Action Plan will provide a focus for new policies and investments that will enable farmers to work toward re-building soil health and ultimately increase yield responses and profitability of fertilizers.
BACKGROUND
In June 2006, the Heads of State and Governments of the African Union endorsed the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the Africa Green Revolution, a continental strategy to reverse the worrying trend of poor productivity of the African soils.
The Declaration focused on key targets required for agricultural growth, food security, and rural development in Africa, with a focus on the role of fertilizers.
It recommended raising the use of fertilizers in 10 years and the establishment of an African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM). The objective is to improve agricultural productivity by providing financing required to boost fertilizer use in Africa so as to achieve the target of 50kg of nutrients per hectare (from 8kg), as mandated by the Abuja Declaration.
