The study provides recommendations for scaling of soil health and fertility management in Africa through practical approaches to prioritization, evidence-based policy and effective extension services.
Abstract
This paper outlines a framework for prioritization and operationalization of a coherent soil health investment agenda. We propose three guiding principles. 1) Prioritize investments based on expected returns. Targeting soil amelioration to soil that is not highly degraded will help to maintain productivity where it is most needed and where benefit–cost ratios are generally high. 2) Use simple, quantifiable indicators for systematic assessments. This evidence base can provide feedback on how well policies are working. Soil productivity and buffering capacity is proposed as the lens, with indicators such as soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, yield response to fertilizer and yield stability. 3) Invest in effective extension. Public, private and civil society actors engaged in extension are needed to leverage innovations in communication technologies and promote a learning agenda at the farm and community level.
Reference
Snapp, S., Chamberlin, J., Winowiecki, L. et al. Realizing soil health for food security in Africa. Nat Sustain (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01482-9
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