Africa has not Overused Fertilizer, it has Misused its Soil – Experts

Soil experts, who gathered in Nairobi at the African Green Revolution Forum on Friday, said that Africa has not overused fertilizer but ‘misused the soil’ leading to a decline in its fertility.

The experts noted that 28 per cent of Africa’s rural farmers farm on degrading land, leading to food scarcity and low economic growth with a majority using an average of 12-13 kilo grams of fertilizer per hectare according to Dr. Rebbie Harawa, Head, Farmer Solutions Program, AGRA.

“Our African soil is depleted,” she says.

Dr. Amit Roy, a former president of the International Fertilizer Development Center says, “The fertilizer consumption in Africa is between 6 to 12 kilo grams per acre compared to the global consumption of 120 KG per hectare.”

“Comparatively, Asia and Africa’s 50 years of production, in Asia, the land has not gone but they have improved the productivity of the soil. In Africa, we have encroached into the virgin land and once we are done with it, we abandon it. The use of fertilizer in Africa is so low and to feed the ever raising population, we cannot do without,” he says.

Roy reckons fertilizer demand will reach 7 million metric tons by 2018, although this figure will represent a mere 2 percent of global consumption. Brazil, China, India, and the US drive global fertilizer consumption collectively, accounting for 55 percent of global demand.

Further, they said that Africa cannot rely on organic farming to feed the rapidly growing population.

Dr Amit says, “Organic farming certainly where it works, it works. But when you look at the whole continent, look at the population growth, look at the food demand, there is no way organic farming is going to feed Africa.”

“Without fertilizer, forget about Africa and Green Revolution the game will be over. Fertilizer is important. The issue is the right type, the right amount and the right place so that you can get the right type of yield,” he adds.

He discloses that policy makers and the government need to understand the farmer’s needs. “They are very smart; they know what works and what does not. What they do not have is the real tools for them to make the changes.”

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Both organic and inorganic fertilizers provide plants with the nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong. Organic fertilizers contain only plant- or animal-based materials, such as manures, leaves, and compost that are either by-products or end products of naturally occurring processes. Inorganic fertilizer, also referred to as synthetic fertilizer, is manufactured artificially and contains synthetic chemicals.

Organic fertilizer releases nutrients only when the soil is warm and moist, while inorganic fertilizer provides this nutrition in plant-ready form immediately.

Amit, also raised the issue of access and availability of fertilizers to the farmer. He said the government policy needs to be consistent and the fertilizer dealers need to solve the accessibility.

“They have a huge role to play to stock up the fertilizer as close to the farmer as possible.”

On the issue of quality, he proposed for punitive measures for those who distribute low quality fertilizer. He terms it a ‘criminal act’.

Amit proposes that governments need to establish a neutral inspectorate body that will check and certify fertilizer that is distributed and sold to farmers. He said 20-30 per cent of yields are lost due to low quality of fertilizer this is as a result of unadulterated fertilizer.

Speaking at a media briefing session on managing Africa’s Soils for Greater Yields after the launch a seminal publication by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), on soil health in Africa called “Going Beyond Demos to Transform African Agriculture”; the soil scientists said that time had come to scale up soil health technologies in Africa.

They agreed that micro-dosing, increased fertilizer use, private-sector investment, improved access to credit, reduction in import costs, smart subsidy programmes and accelerated sustainable soil practices will help Africa realize its Green Revolution dream.