Actors in the global fertilizer industry are accelerating action on partnerships, investments and innovation towards improving fertilizer access and trade in Africa to boost food security currently threatened by climate change.
Over 300 international fertilizer and agribusiness executives and regional government representatives from over 45 different countries are in Dar es Salaam this week from 10-12 October for the inaugural CRU Africa Fertilizer Agribusiness conference. The event is being opened by Dr Charles Tizeba, Tanzania’s Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Tanzania and closed by Charles Mwijage, Tanzania’s Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment.
Read:World Fertilizer Community comes to Tanzania
Speaking at the event, Minister Tizeba invited the private sector to explore the available opportunities in the fertilizer sector and beyond in transforming agriculture strategy to achieve food security in Tanzania.
“The government of Tanzania has priotized to transform agriculture which contributes about 25 per cent of our GDP. Through our various schemes, we have played a key role in creating awareness among smallholder farmers about the importance of using fertilizers in enhancing productivity and we have increased fertilizer use from 8 kg/ha in 2007 to 19.3 kg/ha in 2013,” he said.
“But you will appreciate that government investment in agricultural advisory services has been on the wane reflective of the economic challenges African countries have been facing. We, therefore, request the private sector, donor community and NGOs to partner with African governments in building a vibrant fertilizer industry,” he added.
Event organisers
The conference is organised by CRU, a British business intelligence company and the world’s leading authority on fertilizer markets, in collaboration with the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), an international non-profit organization which is based in Johannesburg, South Africa works with the private sector to establish competitive, responsible and sustainable fertilizer markets in Africa.
“We are so excited to be in Tanzania and bringing the top executives from the international fertilizer industry. Due to the unique partnership between CRU and AFAP we have produced three days of discussions with experts and industry leaders that we hope will increase trade and boost agribusiness in Tanzania and across Africa,” said Nicola Coslett, CEO of Events at CRU. “The event will focus on the role of fertilizers within African agribusiness and how the African agricultural industry can work with international partners to strengthen and improve its agricultural output,” she continued.
“Fertilizers are a food production lifeline and a thriving fertilizer industry means more productive farmers and better livelihoods,” says Richard Mkandawire, AFAP Vice-President. “The conference is being convened at a time of renewed global interest in agriculture development as expressed in the agreement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the ZERO Hunger campaign all of which serve to strengthen the resolve to banish hunger and poverty in Africa by investing in the right inputs to ensure smallholder farmers are productive and profitable.”
Mkandawire said the challenge of food production in Africa is a clarion call for coordinated efforts to transform African agriculture and hence accelerate the continent’s economic growth, secure jobs and improve livelihoods. Africa needs to plug its ‘soil nutrient deficit’ through a holistic approach to increase fertilizer supply and use in order to enhance household and national food production.
“Fertilizers play a critical role in securing better productivity for African farmers but in combination with other inputs such better seeds and agronomic practices. Africa’s soils are generally poor and manure alone cannot restore their productivity,” said Mkandawire. “Private sector participation is key to building and sustaining a strong fertilizer supply chain in Africa and this conference will explore opportunities to boost investment and trade while also boosting agriculture growth.”
