09 May 2024

Botswana is taking steps towards the development of a National Fertiliser Strategy, Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane has said. 

Speaking during the African Union on Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health summit in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday, Mr Tsogwane said the strategy would be aligned to national priorities and continental aspirations. 

“Our aim is to strengthen the fertiliser sector and to increase fertiliser utilisation for the betterment of agricultural productivity and food security,” he said.

 Mr Tsogwane affirmed Botswana’s support for the validation and adoption of the Soil Initiative for Africa Framework, the 10-year Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Action Plan as well as the Nairobi Declaration. 

He thus called for the institutional and financial support of the African Centre for Fertiliser Development (ACFD) based in Zimbabwe, saying such a move would provide support to the fertiliser sector in Africa.

Mr Tsogwane also said it was important to take proactive measures to empower farmers with the knowledge and tools necessary for sustainable agriculture, particularly the proper use of fertilisers and fertiliser supplements. 

He said government’s robust subsidy programmes aimed at enhancing accessibility and affordability in the agriculture sector, were pivotal towards remarkable improvements in the accessibility and affordability of essential agricultural inputs, including fertilisers. The subsidies, he said served as beacons of hope for farmers to ensure that financial constraints did not impede their ability to access the resources they needed to thrive.

“Through various initiatives, including sensitisation programmes, Botswana is actively educating farmers on this subject,” he said.

He further said that due to the absence of local fertiliser manufacturing capacity, the country was relying on imports.

Thus, he said government was taking appropriate measures to efficiently address the accessibility and affordability of fertilisers.

 “Access to these essential agricultural inputs should not be a barrier for our farmers striving to boost productivity and secure food security,” he said.

He acknowledged that fertiliser and soil health were key in propelling sustainable pro-poor productivity growth in the agricultural sector as they played a vital role, particularly in the context of smallholder farmers and impoverished communities.

Additionally, Mr Tsogwane emphasised the importance of soil analysis and mapping to ensure that fertilisers were applied appropriately, based on the specific requirements of the soil. 

He said there was need to consider soil management practices in planning for adaptation to mitigation of climate change and maintaining biodiversity.

 Africa, he said stood at crucial juncture where strengthening regulatory frameworks was not just a choice but also a necessity. 

“We should ensure robust regulations, to guarantee the quality and safety of fertilisers within our agricultural sector.” 

Meanwhile, the African Union on Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health summit, held from May 7-9, discussed among others, a continental strategy to mitigate the high rates of soli nutrient deficiency in Africa due to low rates of fertiliser use by smallholder farmers, resulting in low agricultural productivity. 

The summit had brought together stakeholders including the African Heads of State and government, policymakers, representatives from the private sector and other participants across the agriculture value chain. The expected outcomes of the summit include but not limited to the Soil Initiative for Africa Framework and a 10-year African Fertiliser and Soil Health Action Plan.

Mr Tsogwane is accompanied by senior government officials and his delegation returns today.  ends