Feeding Africa’s Soils

21st November 2019
by secretary

Paepard

AGRA. (2019). Feeding Africa’s soils: Fertilizers to support Africa’s agricultural transformation.Nairobi, Kenya. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Copyright ©2019 by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) 166 pages

For those looking to expand their knowledge and understand the complexities of fertilizer sector development as a part of agricultural intensification in Africa, this book ‘Feeding Africa’s soils: Fertilizers to support Africa’s agricultural transformation’ is a comprehensive and timely publication. This book is a part of a series of publications of AGRA, and further consolidates its position as a ‘go to institution’ for those engaged in transforming agriculture in Africa.

The current African agricultural system is characterized by low-yield and high-NUE. The longer-term strategy for Africa is to shift crop production directly from a low-yield, high-NUE status to a high-yield, high-NUE status. This shift will require leapfrogging over the historical evolution of agricultural management practices by employing technologies and management practices that promote high NUE before emissions reach alarming levels. Developing and/or acquiring and promoting such technologies, such as improved seed, balanced nutrient fertilizers along with soil amendments, and water management are needed and will require investments in research, technology transfer and capacity building. An example of such a technology is the sub-surface application of large granules of urea that doubles NUE particularly for flooded rice; farmers get 18%-20% more rice with nearly 30% less urea.

Source: PAEPARD FEED