In a boost for African agriculture, Canada has announced $7.3 million in funding for the Africa Fertiliser Financing Mechanism (AFFM). This initiative aims to enhance sustainable agricultural productivity and empower smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth, across the continent.
The funding will be directed towards the AFFM’s “Fostering Africa’s agricultural productivity through fertiliser value chain financing” (Foster) programme. It specifically targets 800 000 smallholder farmers, aiming to increase their agricultural yields by 30%. Through the Foster programme, the AFFM will achieve this by:
- Enhancing access to credit: A critical challenge for many African farmers is the limited access to financing for essential agricultural inputs like fertiliser. The Foster programme aims to address this by enabling fertiliser importers and aggregators to access credit more readily. This will ultimately translate to increased availability and affordability of fertiliser for smallholder farmers.
- Promoting soil health: Fertiliser use, while crucial for crop growth, can have detrimental effects on soil health if not managed properly. The Foster programme will prioritise promoting better soil health practices amongst participating farmers. This will ensure long-term agricultural sustainability and prevent soil degradation.
- Providing technical assistance: Knowledge and skills are essential for maximising the benefits of fertiliser use. Foster includes a technical assistance component that will equip farmers with the necessary skills to utilise fertiliser effectively and achieve optimal crop yields.
Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, emphasised the importance of this initiative: “Canada is proud to support resilient, climate-smart agriculture and adaptable food production systems in Africa.”
This investment aligns with several global and regional development goals, including the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 for Africa’s economic transformation, and the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Food Security and Nutrition.
Furthermore, the initiative resonates with Canada’s own Feminist International Assistance Policy, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the agricultural sector.
This announcement by Canada comes just weeks before the African Union Commission’s Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit, scheduled for 7 to 9 May 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya. It is expected to bring together stakeholders from across Africa and the international community to discuss and implement strategies for improving fertiliser use efficiency and promoting sustainable soil management practices.
Canada’s investment in the AFFM’s Foster programme serves as a significant pre-summit commitment towards achieving these goals and bolstering food security across Africa.
The initiative also complements Canada’s broader “Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health” initiative, launched in 2023. It seeks to transform African agriculture into a more productive, competitive, and sustainable sector.
One key component of this larger initiative is the development of national Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts, established during the Dakar 2 Food Summit co-organised by the African Development Bank in January 2023. These compacts will serve as roadmaps for achieving long-term agricultural development goals in participating African countries.
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