• Open soil data and fostering partnerships are crucial for optimising agricultural production and mitigating climate change impacts.
• Fertiliser and soil health summit is aimed at helping to replenish African soils and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Image: HANDOUT
Experts have called for urgent steps to restore Africa’s soils which are in a critical condition.
The experts say 60 per cent of Africa's soil is degraded, hence the need for concerted effort to remedy this.
William Ng'eno, Yara's Country Manager for Kenya and Uganda highlighted the critical role of integrated soil nutrient management, balanced nutrition, and crop-specific nutrient supply in enhancing agricultural productivity.
He said sustainable soil management, access to quality fertilisers, and the need for agriculture transformation to address climate change challenges, underscores the importance of holistic approaches to farming.
Ng’eno spoke at a side event during the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit held at the KICC.
The Summit serves as a platform for stakeholders to collaborate and implement strategies aimed at replenishing African soils and promoting sustainable agricultural practices to achieve optimal yields.
Esther Van de Voost, Yara International's Director for Innovation Portfolio, further emphasized the significance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in driving agricultural development.
“Leveraging open soil data and fostering partnerships are crucial for optimising agricultural production and mitigating climate change impacts," she said.
"Additionally, tailored fertiliser formulations for different crops reflects the understanding of the diverse soil and crop needs in East Africa,” she added.
Geoffrey Kirenga, CEO of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) emphasised the significance of collaborative efforts among research partners, development organisations, governments and farmers to safeguard African soil.
He stressed that empowering farmers with knowledge, particularly regarding minimum or zero tillage practices, is crucial for enhancing soil structure over time.
“Soil testing is important in determining nutrient requirements accurately, enabling farmers to apply the correct amount of fertilizer,” Kirenga said.
He underscored the need for addressing soil acidity by employing measures like agricultural lime application.
Image: OPCS
Kirenga cautioned that failure to address soil acidity could result in significant loss of fertiliser value, emphasising the importance of proactive soil management practices.
In addition to soil testing and appropriate fertiliser use, Kirenga advocated for practices such as minimum tillage and cover cropping to enhance soil health and boost productivity.
These strategies, he explained, contribute to soil improvement and ultimately lead to increased agricultural output for farmers.
Moreover, Kirenga emphasised the role of technology in data collection and analysis.
“By harnessing technology to gather and interpret agricultural data, stakeholders can gain insights into crop cultivation patterns, market dynamics, and policy needs," Kirenga said.
He added: "This data-driven approach enables informed decision-making by policymakers and facilitates the development of targeted interventions and financing structures to support agricultural growth and sustainability."
Duba Golicha, representing the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), noted the critical importance of advancing soil health initiatives, particularly given the ongoing climate changes and the imperative of feeding a growing global population.
He said partnerships are key in this endeavor, and that the national research organization KALRO collaborates with over 200 partners spanning national and international, as well as public and private sectors.
Golicha acknowledged the dynamic nature of soil health, which varies across regions and changes over time.
“With this diversity, collaboration with partners drives forward soil health initiatives effectively," Golicha said.
"These partnerships facilitate the collection and coordination of soil fertility data and identification of yield gaps within key agricultural value chains, providing valuable insights for decision-making to support the country's agricultural growth,” he said.
Golicha encouraged farmers to move to precision farming practices, putting emphasis on the importance of applying the right fertiliser in the right place and quantity.
This approach, he said, not only optimises resource utilisation but also enhances agricultural productivity and sustainability.