Stakeholders seek digital solutions for agric growth

Experts and policymakers have called for greater emphasis on digital solutions to address soil health challenges across Africa.

This was part of the fallouts at the recent Kigali roundtable that spotlighted the need for urgent, coordinated action.

The African Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan and the Soil Initiative for Africa were the focal points of the event, co-hosted by the Coalition of Implementors for Fertilizers and Soil Health and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.

 According to a statement by the Coalition of Implementors for Fertilizers and Soil Health, experts stressed the need for African governments and institutions to lead the charge in addressing widespread soil degradation, which poses a significant threat to food security on the continent.

The President and CEO of the International Fertilizer Development Centre, Henk van Duijn, highlighted the urgency of moving beyond declarations to concrete actions.

“The discussions in Kigali underscored the need to focus on coordinated actions that restore and sustain soil health. We must mobilize national resources and ensure policy alignment with local needs,” he said.

 The roundtable also underscored the pivotal role of small and medium enterprises in driving agricultural transformation.

Participants called for stronger private sector engagement in implementing soil health projects, leveraging the innovation and agility of SMEs to scale up efforts in improving soil health and agricultural productivity.

The Director of Climate Adaptation, Sustainable Agriculture, and Resilience at AGRA, Prof. Tilahun Amede, emphasised the importance of partnerships in addressing the continent’s agricultural challenges.

“AGRA is proud to co-lead and partner with CIFSH. By working together, we can unlock Africa’s agricultural potential and ensure a sustainable future for all,” he stated.

Participants advocated for enhanced collaboration with insurance and financial institutions to support long-term soil health initiatives, identifying the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism as a key tool for leveraging private sector resources.

The Executive Director of the Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes, Antony Chapoto, called for a shift from policy declarations to actionable implementation.

 “To truly transform Africa’s agricultural landscape, we must commit to concrete, localised actions that address local needs. Increased investment in R&D and robust monitoring systems are essential to achieve meaningful progress,” he noted.