Addis Ababa, May 21 __ Lesotho has called for urgent, coordinated, and long-term continental action to address Africa’s growing fertiliser crisis, warning that continued dependence on external supply systems poses a serious threat to food security, agricultural productivity and economic stability across the continent.

Speaking during the Joint Extraordinary Consultative Meeting of the Specialized Technical Committees (STCs) of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Lesotho’s Permanent Representative to the African Union and Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ambassador Ntšiuoa Sekete, expressed concern over escalating disruptions in global fertiliser markets caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and broader instability in international supply chains.

The high-level consultation brought together experts and policymakers from agriculture, finance, trade, industry, and economic planning to assess the implications of fertiliser shortages and rising prices for Africa’s food systems and economies.

Ambassador Sekete commended the African Union Commission for convening what she described as a timely and strategic consultation at a critical moment for the continent.

“Lesotho notes with deep concern Africa’s continued dependence on external fertilizer supply systems, particularly at a time when global geopolitical tensions, energy market volatility, and disruptions along critical shipping corridors are increasingly threatening supply stability and affordability,” she said.

She warned that rising fertiliser prices continue to place immense pressure on smallholder farmers, with reduced access likely to undermine crop yields, worsen food insecurity, and increase food inflation across the continent.

Ambassador Sekete stressed that fragmented national responses would not adequately address a challenge of continental scale, calling instead for stronger regional coordination and collective procurement mechanisms.

Lesotho supported several proposals aimed at strengthening Africa’s fertiliser resilience, including the establishment of strategic fertiliser reserves, framework agreements with regional fertiliser producers, expansion of regional fertiliser blending facilities, strengthening intra-African supply chains, and accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

She also underscored the importance of climate-smart and innovative agricultural approaches such as precision fertilizer application, micro-dosing, integrated soil fertility management, and greater use of organic and bio-fertilizer systems.

In addition, Ambassador Sekete emphasised the need for financing mechanisms to support fertiliser procurement and improve farmer access, particularly for vulnerable and import-dependent economies.
She welcomed growing African-led industrial investments in fertiliser production, including initiatives linked to the Dangote Group, describing them as important examples of Africa-driven industrialization and resilience-building.

As part of the way forward, Lesotho proposed the development of a coordinated continental fertiliser resilience framework, stronger regional market intelligence systems, and enhanced operational roles for Regional Economic Communities in procurement coordination and logistics planning.

Opening the session, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, H.E. Moses Vilakati, also stressed the urgency of collective African action, warning that the continent could no longer afford continued structural dependence on external fertilizer supply systems.

“This crisis is a learning curve for us all,” Commissioner Vilakati said. “Africa needs to start looking inward on how we can make this a success. Without fertiliser, we are not going to get the yields we need, and without coordinated action, the future risks for our food systems will become even greater.”

He further emphasised the importance of transforming Africa’s fertiliser ecosystem through regional production, innovation, and strategic investments, while urging Member States to move beyond short-term responses toward long-term resilience.

According to technical presentations delivered during the meeting, Africa currently imports nearly 80 percent of its fertiliser requirements, leaving the continent highly vulnerable to external shocks. Discussions also highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, through which significant volumes of global ammonia, urea, and phosphate fertiliser exports transit.

The meeting underscored growing concern among African leaders over the continent’s vulnerability to global fertiliser supply disruptions, with delegates emphasising the need for stronger regional cooperation, local production, and long-term resilience to safeguard Africa’s food security and agricultural sustainability.

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