Organic fertilizers: A lifeline for African farmers

Written by: Badr Ahmed

The ongoing war between the United States and Iran has caused economic repercussions that have extended to the agricultural sector in a number of African countries, where farmers are facing a sharp rise in the prices of chemical fertilizers, prompting many to look for cheaper and more sustainable local alternatives.

In Senegal, farmer Abu Sow says he realized from the first moments of the outbreak of war that its effects would not be limited to the Middle East, but would quickly reach the agricultural fields of West Africa.

As tensions have persisted since late February, fertilizer prices in the country have risen by about 40%, placing an additional burden on farmers who rely on them to improve agricultural production.

The Iranian war is pushing African farmers to seek alternatives to chemical fertilizers.

But Sue was better prepared than others to face the crisis, having abandoned the use of chemical fertilizers eight years earlier and turned to organic fertilizer and natural sources.

He is currently working to encourage other farmers to buy fertilizer from local herders, and he is also providing them with guidance on producing nutrient-rich organic fertilizer.

Sue believes that excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers makes the agricultural sector vulnerable to international shocks, noting that disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has affected natural gas supplies, a key component in the fertilizer industry.

Data from the International Food Policy Research Institute indicates that the Gulf region produces about 30% of globally traded chemical fertilizers, while the World Bank’s fertilizer price index showed that global prices have risen by about 50% since the outbreak of the crisis.

Food security threat

For his part, the chief economist at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Maximo Torero, warned that the continued rise in agricultural input costs could exacerbate food security challenges, stressing that time is running out as pressures on farmers around the world increase.

Experts believe that the shift towards natural fertilizers is not only a response to the current crisis, but may also have long-term environmental benefits, as organic fertilizers contribute to reducing emissions associated with the production of chemical fertilizers, and help improve soil quality and reduce water pollution.

Researcher Susan Chumba, a member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, says that reducing reliance on fossil fuels in food production is an important step towards building more sustainable agricultural systems that are better able to cope with future crises.