FERTILISER manufacturers in southern and east Africa operating under the banner – African Fertiliser and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) — have pledged to increase the amount of fertiliser they produce, import and distribute to boost crop production on the continent.
BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA
In a statement yesterday following a conference held in Lusaka, Zambia, last month, AFAP board chairperson Namanga Ngongi said it was necessary for stakeholders to come together to ensure food security.
“These deliberations show us that we can come together from different sectors and mobilise resources to ensure increased fertiliser supply to smallholder farmers,” Ngongi said.
A key outcome of the meeting was the agreement by delegates to set up working groups to address three main areas for joint action which are regional market integration, alternative financing mechanisms and risk management tools, and capacity building across the fertiliser value chain.
Focus areas for the working groups include improving soil fertility and plant nutrition, harmonising policy and regulatory frameworks as well as promoting regional borderless trade.
Stakeholders also agreed to facilitate growth of agro-businesses, promote infrastructure development and engage industry associations.
Over 200 delegates who attended the meeting were drawn from private fertiliser companies, financial institutions, development partners as well as policy and other decision makers driving the regional fertiliser agenda.
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Common Market for East and Southern Africa secretary-general Sindiso Ngwenya called on the meeting to recognise agriculture’s contribution to the continent’s various economies.
“When we talk of agriculture, it is more than fertiliser, it is about economies. We are confident that this historic event will improve market integration, infrastructure development and industrialisation in the region,” Ngwenya said.
Fertiliser use among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa is the lowest in the world, averaging 10 to 12kg per hectare.
