Monday, May 13, 2024 – African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mohammed launched a scathing attack on African countries, among them Kenya, over the heavy reliance on imported fertilizer.
Speaking during the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit
held in Nairobi last week, Faki Mahamat denounced African nations' heavy reliance
on European-imported fertilizers, urging them to prioritize locally
manufactured alternatives.
He expressed concern over the continent's disproportionate
dependence on imported fertilizers despite the presence of local production
capabilities.
"Some African countries produce fertilizers but we
depend mostly on imported fertilizers, which are expensive for our
farmers," lamented Faki Mahamat.
He pointed out to the importance of utilizing existing
continental assets to bolster local production and ensure the availability of
quality, affordable fertilizers.
Kenya is among the top five net importers of fertilizer on the continent, alongside Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is contemplating a shift in its fertilizer procurement strategy.
According to data from the World Bank, there's considerable potential
for redirecting fertilizer trade within Africa to mitigate the impacts of
global crises such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Kenya, which spends more than about Ksh56 billion annually
on fertilizer purchases is facing a crisis of fake fertilizer with Agriculture
CS Mithika Linturi on the firing line over the same.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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