The potential of the off-farm production, marketing and use of organic & biofertilisers in Africa

Agricultural productivity on the African continent, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), ranks among the lowest globally (Bjornlund et al., 2020). One contributing factor is the extensive degradation of soils in many regions (Jones et al., 2013; Nkonya et al., 2016). Consequently, there is a high demand for nutrient sources and measures to halt soil degradation and improve soil health, aiming to enhance agricultural production. While one option is to increase the use of inorganic fertilisers, this alone would only address part of the problem. The remediation of soil degradation also hinges on an elevated application of organic matter and the reduction of soil acidity, amongst others. Even if inorganic fertilisers would be available, affordable and used more widely, factors such as low soil organic matter content, micronutrient deficiencies and/or high soil acidity hinder the effectiveness of such fertilisers. Therefore, on-farm solutions to enhance organic matter content and increase soil nutrient availability, e.g. through good agronomic practices, are necessary conditions to improve soil health and crop yield. 

While there is extensive research and advice on the application of inorganic fertilisers, there is less attention on the production, use and effectiveness of organic and biofertilisers (OFBF), as well as soil amendments. This scoping study focuses on the potential of the off-farm production and marketing of OFBF to contribute to soil health in Africa. It emphasises that, considering nutrient exports and losses, further exploration of strategies for the off-farm production of OFBF can provide another complementary strategy towards a comprehensive solution to improve soil health and crop yield in Africa. 

The study uses a country case study approach and includes a review of existing literature and 89 qualitative key informant interviews, spanning the entire OFBF value chains across 12 African countries: Egypt (Northern Africa); Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal (Western and Central Africa); Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda (Eastern Africa); and Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe (Southern Africa).

This knowledge brief is an extended abstract of the scoping study report.