In a major step toward transforming agricultural resilience across East Africa, Kenya has on Monday played host to the inaugural Steering and Technical Committees meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Soil Health and Fertilizer Hub.
The event held in Nairobi, brought together experts, policymakers, and partners from IGAD region to launch a coordinated regional response to critical challenges threatening soil fertility, food security, and sustainable farming.
Evelyne Heyi, Assistant Director in Kenya’s State Department for Agriculture, who delivered the opening address on behalf of Dr. Caroline Kundu from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO), hailed the meeting as an essential continuation of Africa-wide efforts.
“This gathering builds on decisive commitments made during the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Nairobi Summit and marks a significant milestone in operationalizing a regional platform dedicated to reversing land degradation, boosting fertilizer production and distribution, and enhancing food security in the IGAD region,” Heyi said.
She outlined the Hub’s six key priority areas, from policy harmonization and capacity building to market improvements and inclusive partnerships, emphasizing Kenya’s leadership through its Agricultural Soil Management Policy and national action plan.
Dr. Senait Regassa, Project Coordinator for the IGAD Food Systems Resilience Program, reinforced the Hub’s critical role in forging science-based, regionally coordinated solutions to improve soil health and sustainable fertilizer use.
“Healthy soils are the foundation of food security and resilient livelihoods across our region,” Regassa said. “This Hub represents an essential investment not just for the present but for generations to come.”
The meeting focused on adopting the Hub’s governance framework, developing a two-year action plan, and facilitating peer learning among member states. It aligns with the continent-wide Nairobi Declaration on Fertilizer and Soil Health, which sets ambitious targets for increasing fertilizer access, restoring degraded soils, and strengthening extension services for smallholder farmers.
As East Africa grapples with climate variability and land degradation, the IGAD Soil Health and Fertilizer Hub aims to be a game-changer, catalyzing policy coherence, innovation, and partnerships that can drive sustainable agricultural productivity and secure food systems for the future.
The success of this initiative will depend heavily on the collaboration and commitment of governments, researchers, farmers, and development partners alike.
With the first Steering and Technical Committees meeting now complete, the Hub moves from vision to action, setting a promising path toward healthier soils and stronger livelihoods across the IGAD region.
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