By Kondanani Chilimunthaka
President Lazarus Chakwera who is currently in Nairobi-Kenya where he attended the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit has disclosed that his government has proactively developed a 10-year Malawi Action Plan on Fertilizer and Soil Health to improve the soil Health.
He made the remarks during the presentation of his speech at the summit on Thursday, 9th May 2024.
Chakwera said soil degradation has affected the effectiveness of the inorganic fertilizer by about 70 percent between the year 2014 and 2022, adding that the situation has been worsened by climate change impacts like cyclones and droughts, hence an urgent need to address the soil health issues.
“This is why my government has proactively developed a 10-year Malawi Action Plan on Fertilizer and Soil Health to demonstrate the continental framework which we are adopting at this Summit. Our goal is to improve soil health, improve the usage of organic and inorganic fertilizers, improve soil productivity, and reduce soil erosion. In so doing we will reverse the negative trend in the deterioration of our soil health through a set of interventions that have been outlined in the Action Plan.
Through our Action Plan, costing 163 million dollars, we will leverage existing programs by Government and other stakeholders with our development partners’ support to ensure swift and effective implementation” Said President Chakwera.
Further, the President told the summit that Malawi’s Action Plan will implement the continental fertilizer and soil health action initiative and others aimed at improving soil productivity.
“Through our Action, Malawi will take her place in the World as a food basket for all the countries in the world that do not have the arable land, fresh water, and agricultural human capital we have” added Malawi leader.
President Chakwera has since said the summit gave Malawi an opportunity to present her interest in matters of fertilizer and soil health which have affected the crop production for years.
