News in Brief:
– African leaders and agriculture experts have convened in Nairobi, Kenya for the second Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSH24) to discuss strategies for tackling soil degradation, a major threat to food security.
– The summit aims to establish a 10-year action plan and secure investment to improve fertiliser use and promote sustainable agricultural practices across the continent.
The African Union (AU) is hosting the second Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSH24) in Nairobi, Kenya, this week. The summit brings together over 4,000 participants, including heads of state, government ministers, scientists, and civil society representatives.
A key goal of AFSH24 is to assess progress made since the 2006 Abuja Declaration, which set a target of 50kg/ha of fertiliser use for agricultural growth, according to a statement. This target has largely been unmet, highlighting the urgency for new approaches to address declining soil health and unsustainable farming practices in Africa.
While some African countries have surpassed the Abuja Declaration target, others have seen minimal improvement. Notably, ten countries, including Egypt and South Africa, have achieved fertiliser use rates exceeding 50kg/ha. However, Uganda, a major agricultural producer, currently uses only 2kg/ha.
Generally, Africa loses billions of dollars in soil nutrients annually due to degradation, jeopardising its food security. The continent is also home to nearly 282 million people who are undernourished, a number that has risen significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
AFSH24 emphasises the need for a comprehensive strategy for sustainable agriculture. This includes practices that mitigate climate change, restore degraded land, and conserve biodiversity.
Overall, this summit is expected to produce two key outcomes: the Nairobi Declaration on Fertilizer and Soil Health and a 10-year Action Plan. The declaration will outline commitments and strategies for improving fertiliser use and soil health practices across Africa. Meanwhile, the action plan will provide concrete guidelines for new policies and investments to achieve these goals.
The summit also aims to triple local production of both organic and inorganic fertilisers by 2033.
