The African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBR), Madam Josepha Sacko, has underscored the vital importance of fertilizers and soil health in enhancing agricultural productivity and food production in Africa, especially as the continent’s population grows rapidly.
She pointed out that, AU policymakers need to develop the right policies and strategies to solve these issues.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 6th AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Accra on Friday, Madam Sacko briefed the media on the outcomes of the recent African Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.
She stated, “The African Fertilizer and Soil Summit, held from May 7th to 9th, 2024, brought together heads of state, government ministers, officials, development partners and stakeholders from the agriculture, fertilizer and soil sectors. Three key outcomes emerged from the summit.
“These include the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration on African Fertilizer and Soil Health, which outlines a 10-year action plan; the endorsement of the Soil Initiative for Africa framework to address soil degradation and restore soil health and a commitment to triple domestic production and distribution of certified organic and inorganic fertilizers to reach at least 70% of smallholder farmers by 2030.”
She added that other commitments include preserving and reversing land degradation on at least 30% of degraded soils by 2034, as well as fully operationalising the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism to enhance the production, procurement and distribution of fertilizers.
The Commissioner reiterated the necessity for a strong implementation mechanism to ensure these significant outcomes are realised.
“We are already collaborating with our partners to initiate the implementation process,” she added.
Patience Anaadem, ISD
