Fertilizer facts Fertilizer Use in Sub-Saharan Africa How far are we from the Abuja target?
C
Mt nutrients
East Asia
ompared to the other developing regions, fertilizer consumption 70 70 70 70 over 70 in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has increased only marginally the past four decades. 60 60
60
60
This very low fertilizer use in SSA results in low crop productivity and, in turn, in high prevalence of hunger and50 fast conversion of natural 50 50 habitats to farming. 40African40 40 In order to address this challenge, in 2006, leaders adopted the Abuja Declaration, which calls for increasing average fertilizer use 30 30 30 in SSA from less than 10 kg/ha to at least 50 kg/ha by 2015. In 2014, they renewed their commitment to increasing agricultural productivity 20 20 20 during the agricultural ministerial meeting in Malabo.
Latin America
SSA
60 50 40 30 20
10
10
10
10
0
0
0
0
1972
South Asia
50 40 30 20 10 0
1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 1977 1972 1982 1977 1972 1987 1982 1977 1992 1987 1972 1982 1997 1992 1977 1987 2002 1997 1982 19922007 2002 1987 19972012 1992 2007 20021997 2012 20072002 20122007 2012
Comparative evolution of regional fertilizer consumption in developing regions
T
he SSA fertilizer market was estimated at 3.2 million tonnes (Mt) nutrients in 2012-13, of which 1.8 Mt N, 0.9 Mt P2O5, and 0.5 Mt K2O. SSA consumption accounts for slightly less than 2% of the world total.
South Africa
Kenya
Excluding South Africa, SSA fertilizer demand expansion averages about 8% per year since 2008, making SSA the world’s fastest growing market in relative terms.
T
he average fertilizer application rate in SSA (without South Africa) has been increasing rapidly in recent years, from 6-7 kg/ha in 2008 to 11 kg/ha in 2014, and it is expected to reach 12 kg/ha in 2015. While the trend is positive, there is clearly still a long way to go to reach the 50 kg/ha target set in the Abuja Declaration. Reaching the Abuja target is a priority for Africa’s agricultural development and it requires joint efforts of all stakeholders. IFA and its partners are strong advocates for a series of inter-linked policy measures to improve access to fertilizers, in particular by African smallholders.
13
Ethiopia
The regional market is currently dominated by four countries: South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya.
By 2015, SSA (without South Africa) is forecast to account for half of Africa’s fertilizer consumption, and this share is expected to increase quickly over time.
7
Nigeria
14
43
%
Rest of SSA
23
Leading fertilizer markets in SSA
12 kg/ha
10 8 6 4 2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
Estimated average fertilizer application rate in SSA (without South Africa) (Source: IFA, FAO)
www.fertilizer.org
March 2015