REDEFINING FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTION: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract

In many regions globally, the advent of the Green Revolution has ushered in an era of heightened agricultural productivity, substantially improving food security. However, Africa stands as an exception to this trend, particularly evident in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where agricultural productivity remains persistently low, exacerbating food insecurity. Notably, South Africa aside, SSA grapples with significant challenges in agricultural production. The ramifications extend beyond economic concerns to encompass the well-being of farm families, manifesting in diminished returns on investments, precarious livelihoods marked by low incomes and inadequate nutrition, heightened vulnerability to risks, and diminished life expectancy. Moreover, these challenges foster extractive and detrimental coping mechanisms, further exacerbating environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources. Indeed, the nexus between food security, agricultural productivity, and effective natural resource management is unmistakable, underlining the imperative for comprehensive interventions to address these interrelated challenges.