BY GILBERT KOECH
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development will convene for the Write Shop meeting to follow up on the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit and Declaration of May this year.
It will be held in Nairobi starting Monday in collaboration with member states and stakeholders.
“The meeting will consider the actions and roadmap to implement the Summit’ Declaration to enhance food security, increase agricultural productivity, and support the overall economic development of African nations,” an IGAD statement said.
The summit focused on the challenges and opportunities related to soil health and fertiliser use in Africa. Its final declaration was a call to address soil health issues as fertiliser use increases and reclaiming and regenerating soils. It said fostering sustainability and soil health is fundamental to improve productivity and food security.
Participants will share knowledge on the best techniques and strategies for soil hub creation from the experiences of other regions.
On May 9 this year, African heads of state and government concluded the African Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit and after three days endorsed the Nairobi Declaration on Fertiliser and Soil Health.
It emphasised commitments to revive the nutritional balance of the continent’s exhausted soils.
Years of excessive use without adequate replenishment have resulted in severe depletion of the continent’s soils, hampering their capacity to sustain optimal crop yields.
The event drew more than 4,000
participants, including 57 ministers
of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs,
other government leaders, scientists,
private sector representatives,
heads of development organisations,
civil society leaders, and farmer
organisations.