Abuja, Nigeria — April 24, 2023
Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD)
With a view to developing an updated roadmap for improving soil fertility and agricultural productivity in West Africa, the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is holding virtual consultations with the private sector, civil society, and the public sector April 25-27, 2023.
With technical and financial support from the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) and the World Bank, the consultations aim to mobilize inter-governmental organizations – ECOWAS, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) – and their member countries, as well as other stakeholders in the sector, to contribute to the development and adoption of a specific regional agenda that includes performance indicators on soil fertility and health for the benefit of all countries in the region.
During these three days, the consultations will provide an opportunity to:
- Gather comments, concerns, and suggestions and seek alignment in objectives, strategies, and programs, taking into account the specificities of West Africa.
- Prepare a draft roadmap for ECOWAS and its member states to be presented at a high-level roundtable in Lomé, Togo, May 30-31, 2023, prior to the African Union Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit.
- Consult and inform stakeholders on the processes, draft declaration, and 10-year action plan being prepared by the African Union Commission.
- Prepare and encourage stakeholder participation and engagement before, during, and after the African Union Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit.
Despite the effort made and the progress achieved since the first African Fertilizer Summit in Abuja, Nigeria, in June 2006, agricultural productivity is still insufficient. Fertilizer use in Africa remains low, far lower than the target of 50 kilograms of nutrients per hectare. This has resulted in a heavy reliance on food imports and a continuous increase in the number of food-insecure and hungry people since 2010, all in the context of growing conflict, an upsurge in climate change, and declining soil fertility.
For further information, kindly contact:
Telephone: +234 803 259 6402
Mail: atraore@ecowas.int
