- More than five heads of state, along with dignitaries and stakeholders, convened to address critical agricultural challenges including boosting soil health.
- Farmers have been demanding accountability and the efficient delivery of subsidised fertiliser.
Image: AGATHA NGOTHO
As the curtain fell on the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health summit in Nairobi, a resounding commitment emerged from leaders across the continent.
They called for affordable fertiliser for smallholder farmers.
More than five heads of state, along with dignitaries and stakeholders, convened to address critical agricultural challenges including boosting soil health.
Meanwhile, in the chambers of the National Assembly, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi faced scrutiny over allegations of corruption and malpractice, particularly concerning the distribution of counterfeit fertiliser.
Farmers have been demanding accountability and the efficient delivery of subsidised fertiliser.
On Thursday, Linturi appeared before a select committee at the National Assembly which is probing his impeachment motion.
The African Heads of State and Government concluded the three-day summit by endorsing the Nairobi Declaration on Fertiliser and Soil Health.
The leaders underscored the need to revive the nutritional balance of the continent's exhausted soils.
The Nairobi Declaration called to the tripling of domestic production and distribution of certified quality organic and inorganic fertilisers by 2034. This, they noted will help to improve access and affordability for smallholder farmers.
The declaration also called for support to natural gas producing member states in fertiliser production to increase production and ensure availability at stable prices.
“We call for the full operationalisation of the Africa Fertiliser Financing Mechanism to improve production, procurement, and distribution of organic and inorganic fertilisers, and soil health interventions,” the declaration read.
The leaders also called for the formulation and implementation of policies and regulations to create a conducive environment for fertiliser and soil health interventions.
This is in addition to developing and promoting systemic national capacity building for locally relevant fertiliser and soil health management practices and technologies.
It further called for ensuring that at least 70 per cent of smallholder farmers have access to quality extension, and advisory services on fertiliser and soil health both from public and private extension systems.
The declaration also outlined the specific actions to achieve the envisioned outcomes.
Additionally, the AFSH summit endorsed a 10-year action plan for Fertiliser and Soil Health, the Africa Financing Mechanism (AFFM) for the Action Plan, and the Soil Initiative for Africa framework, all of which represent ambitious long-term efforts to systematically enhance the health and productivity of Africa’s soils.
The summit was convened under the theme, Listen to the Land. Participants explored the current condition of Africa’s soils in a bid to implement urgent and appropriate restorative measures.
The event gathered over 4,000 participants, including 57 ministers of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs other government leaders, scientists, private sector representatives, heads of development organisations, civil society leaders, and leaders of farmer organisations.
President William Ruto called for enhancing of last-mile logistics for fertiliser distribution.
“Moreover, building farmers' capacities for effective fertiliser use and soil health improvement is imperative. About 60 per cent of the world's uncultivated arable land is in Africa, we possess the largest potential for food production and become a global food basket,” Ruto said.
He said prioritising investments in nitrogen fertiliser production facilities is essential.
“Developing mechanisms for real time tracking of fertiliser market trends to ensure timely availability is crucial. Additionally, we need sustainable strategies to make fertilisers more affordable and accessible,” he said.