Underutilized Fertilizer inputs

Steven J. Van Kauwenbergh of the IFDC and author of Fertilizer Raw Material Resources of Africa

Points out that six African countries control about 41.5% of the world’s currently exploitable phosphate rock reserves and 50.2% of the total global phosphate rock reserve base that may be exploitable in the future. “Ironically, Africa exports large quantities of phosphate rock, while importing manufactured fertilizers at costs that small-scale farmers can’t afford,” Van Kauwenbergh says. “Development of indigenous fertilizer raw material resources and local or regional fertilizer production facilities are alternatives to supply the nutrients that African farmers must have to feed growing populations."

via African Agriculture

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