Sustain Africa programmes are on track to reach 1.5 million farmers in five countries. Planning for up to 14 countries in 2023 is underway
– are at different stages, with the Uganda programme complete and others part-way through. Mozambique and Madagascar were the last programmes to launch, in November 2022. So far, just over 1 million farmers have been reached with affordable fertilizer, seed, and extension services. Meanwhile, planning is underway for up to 14 countries for 2023. Sustain Africa plans to reach upwards of 5 million farmers in these countries plus Burkina Faso, Burundi, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Country priority is determined based on: Risk of food insecurity; fertilizer supply gap, risk of market distortion and; feasibility of the interventions (including scope of Sustain Africa partners, availability of implementing partners, political and security risks and macro-economic stability, scope and effectiveness of existing government subsidy and emergency programmes).
Below is a summary of progress of the 2022 programmes:
Uganda: The Sustain Africa programme was rolled out in Uganda in August 2022 and finished in February 2023. Input suppliers Yara and ETG offered 20,000 MT of discounted fertilizer to 100,000 farmers in all regions and 114 districts in the country. Concessional funding has been provided by Rabobank to bring the total discount to 35%.
The programme exceeded the planned 20,000 MT of supply, reaching 71,000 farmers. Additionally, 121 Community Based Advisors were trained, exceeding the target of 100. Radio programmes and jingles were used to alert farmers to the programme. AFAP is the implementing partner in Uganda.
Ghana: In Ghana, Sustain Africa partner Yara committed 18,000MT of high quality YaraMila Actyva fertilizer worth $20 Million USD through its Grow Ghana programme, supported by USAID. The programme began in September 2022 and will run to 3Q 2023. The stock is accessed by a target of 100,000 productive smallholder farmers in a scheme where farmers will directly purchase 2 bags of fertilizer at market value and get one additional bag free. The programme is on track, with 50800 farmers having so far accessed 9,000MT of the subsidized fertilizer since the start of the programme.
Mozambique: The programme in Mozambique launched in late November 2022 with partners Yara and ETG and will run to October 2023. A target of 9,500 MT of fertilizer, discounted by suppliers at 10% to farmers, with additional concessionary funding of 20%, will be supplied to 47,500 farmers for maize, rice and vegetable production. Additionally, fruit and vegetable seed packages, crop protection products, assistance with post-harvest crop handling and storage, and farmer training will be provided. To date, shortly after programme launch 1,900 MT of fertilizer have reached 8,500 farmers. AFAP is the implementing partner in Mozambique.
Malawi: Sustain Africa partner OCP donated 10,000 MT of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) to the Malawi government. Sustain Africa has facilitated transport of the MAP from Beira port in Mozambique to Malawi and conversion of this to 52,000MT of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizer aimed at just over 1 million farmers through the government’s Agricultural Input Programme. The programme runs from October 2022 to September 2023. Already, 49,800 of rebated fertilizer has been accessed by 926,000 farmers. AFAP is the implementing partner in Malawi.
Madagascar: In Madagascar, Sustain Africa partner IRM has committed to 4,500 MT of ammonium sulphate, discounted at 30-40% targeting 72,500 farmers in 14,500 family and community farms with an integrated package of fertilizer, 500 MT of seeds and extension services. The programme began in November 2022 and will run until July 2023. The programme has already vastly exceeded its target, with 7,480 MT of fertilizer provided to 187,000 farmers. Over 200 ‘mama’ and ‘baby’ demonstrations on correct usage have been carried out so far.
