Africa has experienced a widespread decades-long decline in soil quality of farmland since the early 20^th century – a phenomenon that continues today and negatively impacts the agricultural production capacity and food security in the continent. To derive solutions, in June 2006, the Heads of State and Governments of the African Union endorsed the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the Africa Green Revolution, a continental strategy to reverse the worrying trend of poor productivity of the African soils.

The Declaration focused on key targets required for agricultural growth, food security, and rural development in Africa, with a focus on the role of fertilizers. It recommended raising the use of fertilizers from 8 kg/(nutrients)/ha to 50 kg (nutrients) /ha by 2015, and the establishment of an African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) with the objective of improving agricultural productivity by providing financing required to boost fertilizer use in Africa to achieve the target of 50 kg of nutrients per hectare, as mandated by the Abuja Declaration. However, the target is yet to be met with the average fertilizer use per hectare remaining between 5kg/ha and 10 kg/ha since 1990. This is less than 10% of the world average.

For a step-change, and to fast-track the achievement of the target, the 2024 AFSH Summit will review the state of Africa’s soil health to recalibrate the strategies being deployed for boosting the productivity of soils towards higher and sustainable gains in crop yields as well as economic growth and transformation, and the overall well-being of Africa’s farming communities.