Africa urged to build fertiliser industry for food resilience

The African Leadership Magazine argues Africa must invest in local fertiliser production and regional supply chains to reduce dependence on costly imports. The continent spends $75 billion annually on food imports despite having 60% of the world's uncultivated arable land, per the African Development Bank.

Bottom line — AfDB's $1.5 billion emergency facility supported 20 million farmers to produce 38 million tonnes of food.

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• Fertiliser use across much of Africa remains below global levels, contributing to low agricultural productivity, per the African Development Bank.
• Nigeria has emerged as a major fertiliser producer after private investment in the Indorama Eleme and Dangote plants, shifting from heavy import dependence to domestic supply and export potential.
• The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers an opportunity to develop regional agricultural-input markets rather than fragmented national supply chains, the article argues.
• African financial institutions like the AfDB and Afreximbank can provide long-term capital and guarantees to encourage private investment in fertiliser and logistics capacity.
• Smallholder farmers need affordable credit, extension services and digital tools alongside inputs for increased fertiliser production to translate into higher food output.

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