PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has urged African leaders to prioritise efforts to make fertilizer readily available and affordable for farmers across the continent.
Addressing delegates at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health summit in Kenya, President Hichilema emphasised that this initiative is crucial for increasing food production and enhancing food security in Africa.
The summit, organised by the African Union (AU), serves as a platform for African nations to exchange best practices regarding fertilizer use and soil health research to boost agricultural productivity.
President Hichilema underscored the importance of investing in local fertilizer production to ensure food remains accessible within the continent.
He highlighted past shortcomings in fertilizer application such as insufficient soil testing and research noting that unaffordable fertilizer prices inevitably lead to expensive food.
“We have been applying inappropriate fertilizer, we have not done enough soil testing and enough research. If fertilizer is not affordable it means the food will be expensive,” stated Hichilema.
“We shouldn’t depend on other continents to supply us with fertilizer. We need to increase the capacity to produce fertilizer because we have the resources.”
Meanwhile, President Hichilema engaged in discussions with the United States special envoy for Global Food Security Cary Fowler on the sidelines of the summit in Kenya yesterday to address the prolonged dry spell affecting the country.
He said such dialogues aim to tackle the drought-induced food insecurity plaguing Zambia and other regions.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, May 10, 2024
