Developing national strategies for soil fertility

The decline in soil fertility is often an insidious and imperceptible process. By the time the decline is noticed it is already at a stage difficult to reverse. The International Fertilizer Development Center together with the World Bank organized a workshop in Lomé, Togo in April this year entitled Development of national strategies for soil fertility recapitalization in sub-Saharan Africa. The results of the workshop included a consensus on the strategic role of soil fertility recapitalization as a basic condition for agricultural growth, rural development, and the protection of the environment in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, a group of international institutions, together with the World Bank, have joined forces to work with governments to develop and implement national action plans within the framework of the Soil Fertility Initiative (SFI), to reverse the trend of declining soil fertility in the region. Workshop delegates developed a proposed programme for soil fertility improvement that included the necessary steps and means for implementation. Also included were the indicators to, monitor the performance of, and allow comparisons with, other similar programmes. Policymakers in the countries represented at the workshop and other interested countries will receive copies of the strategic framework. These can be adapted to specific requirements in accordance with existing national programmes. The challenge for countries in the region, according to the secretary of the workshop, is that they should believe in SFI and apply themselves to developing national soil fertility management strategies to present to donors. These strategies should be aimed at the sustainability of effort and investment to take them through the next 20 years and beyond. IFDC PO Box 2040, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662, USAThe decline in soil fertility is often an insidious and imperceptible process. By the time the decline is noticed it is already at a stage difficult to reverse.The International Fertilizer Development Center together with the World Bank organized a..