NAIROBI, Kenya – Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi recently joined his fellow Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi. The summit, which took place on May 09, 2024, saw high-level officials from across the continent come together to discuss the critical issue of soil health in Africa.
The Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit is a significant event aimed at addressing the challenges faced by African countries in maintaining and improving soil health. Soil health is a crucial factor in agricultural productivity and food security, and it is a key concern for many African nations.
The summit provides a platform for African leaders to discuss the latest research, share best practices, and develop strategies to promote soil health across the continent.
During the summit, Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi emphasized the importance of collaboration among African countries in addressing soil health issues. He noted that soil health is a shared challenge that requires a coordinated and cooperative approach.
The Minister highlighted the need for increased investment in research and development to improve soil health management practices and to develop more effective and sustainable agricultural technologies.
The summit also provided an opportunity for the participating countries to review the progress made in implementing the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
The CAADP is a continent-wide framework for agricultural development and food security, and soil health is a key component of the program. The summit participants discussed the challenges and successes in implementing the CAADP and identified areas for further improvement.
In addition to the discussions on soil health, the summit also addressed the issue of fertilizer access and affordability in Africa. Many African farmers struggle to obtain the fertilizers they need to maintain soil fertility and increase crop yields.
The summit participants discussed strategies to improve fertilizer access and affordability, including promoting local production and distribution of fertilizers and encouraging the use of alternative soil fertility management practices.
The Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit is an important event that highlights the importance of soil health in Africa’s agricultural development and food security.
The participation of high-level officials, such as Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, demonstrates the commitment of African leaders to addressing this critical issue.
As the summit concludes, it is hoped that the discussions and recommendations will lead to concrete actions and policies that will improve soil health and promote sustainable agriculture across the continent.
