African heads of state and government pledged to lead a new ‘Green Revolution’ on their hunger-stricken continent with an arsenal of better soil, seeds and financial aid for millions of subsistence farmers.

 

The systematic use of fertilizer -- by eliminating taxes and tariffs that often keep it out of reach -- is crucial to rejuvenating what experts here called the continent's ‘dead’ soil, the leaders concluded. ‘To feed themselves and their countries, farmers will need to shift from low-yielding, extensive land practices to more intensive, higher-yielding practices, with increased use of improved seeds, fertilizers and irrigation,’ they said in a joint statement at the close of Africa's first agricultural summit. An 11-point plan approved by the participants, which included at least seven African leaders, calls on governments to reduce the cost of fertilizers by the middle of next year, and to eliminate taxes and tariffs on them immediately.

 

By mid 2007, African Union (AU) member states and Regional Economic Communities should take appropriate measures to reduce the cost of fertilizer procurement at national and regional levels, they said. The African governments must by mid 2007 take concrete measures to specially address the fertilizer needs of women farmers and develop capacity of youths, farmer's associations, civil society and private sector.

 

The ministers said there should be immediate steps to accelerate investments in infrastructure, fiscal incentives and strengthen farmer organizations and private sectors. They said that AU member states should take specific action to improve farmers' access to quality seeds, irrigation facilities, extension services, market information, soil nutrient testing and mapping to facilitate effective use of fertilizers.

The ministers said that the extensive fertilizer raw material resources on the continent were under utilized, adding that African member states must promote national and regional fertilizer production to capture a bigger market.

 

The modernization of farming techniques and increased fertilizer use spurred Green Revolutions in Asia and Latin America in the 1950s and 1960s that increased crop yields dramatically and eradicated hunger in most regions. But in Africa, where many farmers cannot afford fertilizer, yields per person have fallen over the last 40 years and experts warn that if soil depletion continues unabated, they will decline by up to 30 percent over the next 15 years.

 

Their aim was to increase the average use of fertilizer per hectare in Africa to 50 kg (110 lb) by 2015 from 8 kg now, less than one tenth of the world average. Other measures include setting up by 2007, an Africa Fertilizer Development Financing Mechanism. This would be financed by AU member states, with backing from the African Development Bank and the UN. The financing mechanism would help farmers obtain fertilizer but would also aim to foster local production. Africa has 60 percent of world reserves of phosphate, a key ingredient, but produces hardly any fertilizer. As things stand, Africans pay up to six times the average world price for their fertilizers because of transport costs. Fertilizer use is negligible and most of it is for cash crops. Subsistence farmers are not replacing the nutrients they harvest along with each successive crop. …”