Fostering Sustainable Agriculture through Data-Driven Collaboration and Partnership: Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Nigeria
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Date
2023
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Abstract
This study explores the transformative impact of collaborative efforts on sustainable agriculture in Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Nigeria. Historically low fertilizer usage in Africa, attributed to various challenges, has hindered agricultural productivity. Despite efforts by governments and international agencies to promote sustainable practices, the absence of comprehensive and integrated data has impeded informed decision-making.
The Visualizing Insights on Fertilizer for African Agriculture (VIFAA) program, a collaboration between the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), AfricaFertilizer, Development Gateway, and Wallace & Associates, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, addresses this data gap. By simplifying validated fertilizer data into visual formats through country dashboards, VIFAA provides tools for policymakers and the private sector, fostering evidence-based decision-making.
The program has achieved significant success in Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Nigeria. In Ethiopia, a Fertilizer Technical Working Group (FTWG) and a country dashboard were established, aiding the government in strategic procurement decisions. Mozambique, facing data opacity, benefited from a FTWG and a study to improve data collection, addressing inefficiencies in the fertilizer value chain. In Nigeria, VIFAA's five-year engagement resulted in a sustainable private sector co-financing model, enhancing the country's fertilizer sector through data-driven insights.
The collaborative approach and key components of success include close collaboration, leveraging existing frameworks, innovation through dashboards, setting up FTWG frameworks, timely implementation, optimal utilization of innovation funds, and sustainability through platform updates. The impact of VIFAA is evident in industry recognition, private sector co-funding, and government involvement in assessments such as the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative.
The term "VIFAA," translating to "tool" in Swahili, encapsulates the program's essence as a vital tool for governments, private sector entities, suppliers, and farmers. As Africa experiences growth in fertilizer consumption, VIFAA stands out as a scalable model, showcasing the power of partnership in addressing complex challenges and driving positive change in the fertilizer sector. Encouraging increased stakeholder participation is crucial for the program's scalability and its ability to address the burgeoning data requirements accompanying the growth in fertilizer consumption.
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Keywords
Agricultural productivity, Fertilizers