A new report from the Regional Hub for Fertiliser and Soil Health warns that up to 65 percent of productive land in Africa is degraded, with 45 percent affected by desertification. The article highlights how nutrient depletion, unsustainable farming, and climate variability are creating a cycle of declining productivity across West Africa. Fertilizer use in Sub-Saharan Africa averages just 22 kg per hectare versus a global average of 146 kg per hectare, and applications often don't match specific soil needs. The hub promotes climate-smart agriculture that integrates balanced fertilizer use, organic amendments, agroforestry, and crop rotation. Soil carbon sequestration is flagged as a key nature-based solution, but the report stresses that realizing this potential depends on how land is managed today. For anyone tracking carbon markets or nature-based solutions in Africa, this piece connects soil degradation directly to climate resilience and carbon storage potential.
