New project to support Farmers access quality Fertilizers launched
A new project that will see farmers access quality and affordable fertilizers has been launched. The Fertilizer Financing for Sustainable Agriculture (FFSAM) project is a USD 2 million project by African Development Bank Group in partnership with the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) aimed at enabling access to quality and affordable fertilizers to farmers especially the small holder category.
The three-year project targets to cover 400,000 farmers in 12 districts. The project if financed by the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) which is a special fund under the African Development Bank Group that provides innovative financing solutions required to accelerate fertilizer use in Africa and improve agricultural production and productivity.
Speaking at the launch of the project at Serena Hotel on Friday 30th August 2024, the Coordinator of AFFM Mrs. Marie Claire Kalihangabo said the project targets to provide 60,000 tons of fertilizers into the market within the three years of implementation. She added that 125 retail agro-dealers will benefit through on-selling the fertilizers to farmers.
The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Hon. Frank Tumwebaze who was represented by the Executive Director NAADS Dr. Samuel Mugasi, said the project is timely because it has come at a time when Uganda and Africa at large are grappling with low production and productivity levels due to declining soil fertility and climate change.
“Nutrient depletion of our soils on account of harvested crop biomass with no replenishment coupled with the effects of climate change has led to low food production and the risk of hunger and malnutrition. This trend if not addressed, will undermine the realization of SDG goals on poverty and zero hunger”, said Tumwebaze
The Minister added that there is need for increased fertilizer application to replenish Uganda’s soils. He said streamlining the fertilizer supply chain and making fertilizers more accessible to smallholder farmers will contribute to the country’s overall economic growth.
Today, fertilizer application in Uganda averages 2kgs per hectare way below the continent’s average of 22kgs per hectare, yet the target set during the Abuja 20226 fertilizer summit stands at 50kgs per hectare.
