Namibia is banking on green ammonia production expected to begin next year from green hydrogen projects around the country to make fertiliser, an official has revealed.
Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Deputy Minister Anna Shiweda said the move aims to improve soil fertility for agriculture and attract investors, as ammonia is a vital component in fertiliser production.
“It is important to inform this session that the Green Hydrogen Project in Namibia is progressing well, and we foresee the first ammonia production in the country by next year. Since ammonia is one of the ingredients for the production of fertiliser, Namibia looks forward to investment partnerships to develop this project for the country in particular and the continent in general,” said Shiweda who is attending the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit in Kenya.
“Unfortunately, Namibia is among those countries that have not reached the 50kg/ha fertiliser consumption level as stipulated in the Abuja Declaration. Hence, it is important to highlight that soils in Namibia are generally sandy and poor in terms of organic matter content. Therefore, Namibia is privileged to attend the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit, which is an eye opener for us to realise and appreciate where the Continent is currently standing in terms of fertiliser consumption,” she added.
The Deputy Minister further revealed that Sub-Saharan Africa has an average fertiliser application rate of 22 kilogrammes per hectare, compared to a world average which is seven times higher, estimated at 146 kilogrammes per hectare.
Such consumption levels, she said, do not compare well with top consumers in the world, such as China and Chile, who are closer to 400 kilogrammes per hectare.
“We are also informed that the continent produces approximately 30 million metric tonnes of fertiliser each year. However, about 90% of fertiliser consumed in Sub-Saharan Africa is imported, mostly from outside the continent,” she said.
“This reflects inefficiencies in shipping and port handling costs, distribution chains, information availability and other trade frictions. Therefore, there is a need for concerted efforts by African nations to fix the anomalies in the trading system in order to ensure that sufficient fertilisers are available and accessible to the farmers.”
Reflecting on Namibia, Shiweda said 70% of local farmers depend on rain-fed agriculture, of which for the past seven to nine years the country has been experiencing severe and recurrent droughts.
“The past two rainfall years, in particular, have been a disaster for Namibian farmers. For this reason, the Government of Namibia has mobilised funds to feed the population through the Drought Relief Programme which is implemented by the Office of the Prime Minister,” she said.
As a mitigation factor, the government has made N$825 million available for drought relief programmes for the 2024 financial year.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us a lesson which justify the revival of the Africa Centre for Fertiliser Development. Therefore, Namibia also supports the resolution on the resuscitation and capacitation of Harare Africa Centre for Fertiliser Development. Given the above situation, Namibia supports the Draft Nairobi Declaration on Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health, and undertakes to support the adoption and implementation of this Declaration,” she further remarked.
The high panel deliberations were held under the theme: “Sowing Success: The Role of Soil Health Partnerships in Boosting Food Security.”
Shiweda stated that Namibia recognises the guidelines on agrochemicals and fertiliser developed by Southern Africa Development Communities (SADC) for the region.
These guidelines, she said, are critical because agrochemicals and fertilisers are the most used inputs in the agricultural sector, particularly in the control of pests, and diseases and to enhance productivity.
Highlighting the 2006 Abuja Declaration on Fertiliser for the Africa Green Revolution which aims to reverse the worrying trend of poor productivity of the African soils, Shigwedha said, the government passed a Cabinet Decision to subsidise fertilisers to stimulate and increase the use of fertiliser per hectare.
“In addition, Namibia is also in the process of promoting both chemical and organic fertiliser production in the country through Public-Private Partnership,” she said.
She warned that the application of fertiliser is not managed very well, especially in their use and disposal which can result in serious environmental and public health repercussions.
“Therefore, while promoting the utilisation of fertilisers on our continent it is important for us to be guided by existing guidelines to prevent and to implement good agricultural practices,” she cautioned.
