Nearly two decades after African governments pledged to dramatically increase fertilizer use under the landmark Abuja Declaration, the continent continues to lag far behind global agricultural regions in soil nutrient application, underscoring persistent structural weaknesses in Africa’s food production systems and raising renewed concerns over long-term food security, land degradation and agricultural productivity.
At the first African Fertilizer Summit in 2006, African leaders committed to increasing fertilizer application rates to at least 50 kilograms per hectare annually by 2015 as part of a broader strategy to reverse declining soil fertility and stimulate an “African Green Revolution.” The initiative, endorsed by the African Union, was intended to address chronic nutrient depletion across African farmland, where decades of continuous cultivation, limited mechanisation and low investment in agricultural inputs have reduced productivity in many regions.
Despite progress since the early 2000s, the continent remains significantly below both its own target and global averages. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, average fertilizer use in Africa reached 22.6 kg per hectare in 2023, compared with 16.3 kg per hectare in 2000. The figure remains less than half the Abuja target and substantially below the global average of 116.4 kg per hectare.
By comparison, fertilizer use in Asia averaged 186 kg per hectare, while the Americas recorded 128 kg and Oceania 83 kg, reflecting stark disparities in agricultural intensification between Africa and other major farming regions. Analysts say the gap continues to constrain crop yields, rural incomes and the continent’s ability to reduce dependence on food imports.
The uneven distribution of fertilizer use within Africa also highlights major regional disparities in agricultural infrastructure, subsidy systems and access to farm inputs. Egypt recorded the continent’s highest fertilizer application rate at 407.4 kg per hectare, supported by intensive irrigation systems and relatively industrialised agricultural production. Other comparatively high users included Botswana at 92.4 kg, Malawi at 83.2 kg and Zambia at 76.5 kg.
In East Africa, Kenya ranked among the region’s highest users at 44.8 kg per hectare, followed by Ethiopia at 40.3 kg. However, several major agricultural economies remain far below continental averages. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and one of its biggest food producers, recorded fertilizer use of just 3.5 kg per hectare, while Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo each stood at 2.5 kg.
At the lower end of the ranking, Niger recorded only 0.8 kg per hectare and South Sudan 0.2 kg, illustrating the scale of input shortages affecting some of the continent’s most climate-vulnerable economies.
Agricultural economists say the persistently low use of fertilizer across Africa reflects a combination of structural challenges, including high import costs, weak distribution networks, currency instability, limited access to rural credit and inadequate transport infrastructure. In many countries, fertilizer prices surged sharply following disruptions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and volatility in global energy markets, given the sector’s heavy dependence on natural gas inputs.
The implications extend beyond crop yields. Soil degradation is increasingly being recognised as a macroeconomic and environmental risk across Africa, particularly in countries where agriculture remains a major source of employment and export revenue. According to regional development agencies, declining soil fertility contributes directly to food insecurity, deforestation and pressure on marginal lands, while also reducing resilience to climate shocks such as droughts and erratic rainfall.
For governments already grappling with rising food import bills and inflationary pressures, low agricultural productivity presents mounting fiscal challenges. Several African economies spend billions of dollars annually importing staple foods despite possessing large areas of arable land. Analysts argue that without significant improvements in soil health, irrigation systems and mechanisation, the continent’s rapidly growing population will continue to outpace domestic food production capacity.
The debate over fertilizer use also intersects with broader discussions around sustainability and climate adaptation. While mineral fertilizers are considered essential for improving yields in nutrient-depleted soils, policymakers and researchers increasingly emphasise the need for balanced approaches that combine inorganic fertilizers with organic soil restoration practices, precision agriculture and climate-smart farming methods.
Some countries have attempted to address the gap through subsidy programmes and local production initiatives. Nigeria, for example, has invested heavily in domestic fertilizer manufacturing in recent years, while countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia have expanded support programmes targeting smallholder farmers. However, implementation challenges, affordability constraints and inconsistent policy frameworks continue to limit impact in many markets.
As African governments prepare for future agricultural and climate financing negotiations, the continent’s fertilizer deficit is emerging as both a development and strategic issue. Improving soil productivity is increasingly viewed not only as an agricultural objective, but also as a prerequisite for economic resilience, food sovereignty and long-term environmental sustainability in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.
