AFRICA is spending nearly US$100 billion every year importing food, a situation the African Union (AU) has described as unsustainable and detrimental to the continent’s food security and self reliance goals.
The warning came from AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, Mr. Vilakati Moses Malindane, who was in Zimbabwe for high-level engagements focused on revitalising the Africa Centre for Fertiliser Development (ACFD) a continental institution with the potential to transform Africa’s fertiliser systems.
Mr. Vilakati said Africa could not attain food security while its fertiliser systems remained weak and fragmented.
“We cannot achieve food security if our fertiliser systems are weak. Farmers deserve inputs they can trust,” said Commissioner Vilakati.
He said the AU was prioritising the strengthening of fertiliser systems through its 100 Day Plan, which focuses on local production, blending, independent quality verification, and policy alignment across member states.
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The ACFD, headquartered in Harare, is set to be repositioned as a strategic AU agency driving policy harmonisation, quality control, and capacity building within Africa’s fertiliser sector.
In Zimbabwe, where fertiliser contributes up to 40 percent of agricultural production costs, the revival of the ACFD is being hailed as a major opportunity to reduce costs and improve productivity for smallholder and commercial farmers alike.
“Our farmers are innovating, our government is supporting production, but fertiliser remains the biggest cost factor. Reviving ACFD as an AU-recognised centre will help us innovate around cost, quality, and access issues at the heart of productivity,” said Permanent Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Obert Jiri.
Commissioner Vilakati’s visit forms part of the AU’s broader strategy to implement the Soil Health and Fertiliser Roadmap, which seeks to promote sustainable fertiliser use, improve soil fertility, and ensure affordable access to quality agricultural inputs.
As the AU advances this agenda, Zimbabwe’s vision of production in every village has positioned the country at the forefront of Africa’s drive toward agricultural self reliance and food sovereignty.
“Africa’s path to food security starts with stronger, trusted, and affordable fertiliser systems,” Commissioner Vilakati added.
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