For 4 weeks now, WAFA, IFDC and AfricaFertilizer.org<http://af
The situation is still satisfactory logistically and financially for a timely delivery of fertilizers to producers, helped by the easing of restrictions and containment measures in several countries. Our last issue focused on price reports across the region. This week, our map shows fertilizer use in the 17 countries of West Africa on both food and cash crops.
Read our West Africa Fertilizer Watch – Weekly Analysis #4 (EN)<https://ifdc.org/wp-conte
Current Highlights
Published Friday, May 1, 2020. These highlights will be updated every Friday.
· The supply chain is working, and stocks are being built up, while some countries are taking measures to open up. This is true in Ghana and Nigeria, where the economic impacts of the pandemic may be more severe than the direct health impacts.
· Government responses are being fine-tuned, with response plans and support programm for inputs (Togo, Nigeria, Senegal) being put in place, or for agricultural commodity chains (Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Chad).
· Subsidies, first of all for food crops? While food crops only consume a little more than half (54%) of the fertilizers consumed in West Africa and receive barely 20% of the recommended inputs, governments should encourage local food production and maintain the production level and purchasing power of cash crop farmers. Implementation options should be based on ECOWAS regulations and the future Fertilizer Subsidy Directive, as well as existing national subsidy programs (see the map published in Issue 2 and RODEVA’s viewpoint).
· Responses from the seed sector are being prepared with support from CORAF, which notes that enough certified seed for rice is available for the next growing season, while all other crops have a shortfall in the quantity of seed required.
_ Source=Patrice Annequin PAEPARD
