Fertilizer Technical Working Group 2022 Joint Fertilizer Statistics Validation Workshop Burundi | Rwanda | Tanzania | Uganda
Date
2023-07
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Abstract
The meeting, co-organized by AfricaFertilizer and Development Gateway (DG) on July 19-20, 2023, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, aimed to enhance the quality and availability of fertilizer data in Africa to support agricultural development policies and improve fertilizer trade. A total of 21 participants, including 16 representatives from public and private sectors and 5 facilitators, gathered to validate fertilizer statistics from Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. The workshop's objectives included validating national fertilizer statistics for 2022, updating statistical output tables from 2010 to 2022, and gathering feedback on fertilizer programs addressing the ongoing fertilizer crisis.
The methodology included presentations, discussions, and group work focused on data validation. During the meeting, participants learned about AfricaFertilizer's activities, which aim to position the organization as the leading provider of fertilizer data to enhance market transparency. The development of the Visualizing Insights on Fertilizer for African Agriculture (VIFAA) dashboard was highlighted as a significant tool for visualizing data effectively. Notable fertilizer statistics from 2017 to 2021 revealed significant increases in production and consumption in Tanzania, while Rwanda's reliance on imports was underscored, as it has no local production. Uganda and Burundi exhibited varying trends in their fertilizer imports and subsidy programs.
In Tanzania, fertilizer imports rose from 395,033 metric tons in 2021 to 627,537 metric tons in 2022, attributed to improved subsidy programs that stimulated demand. Conversely, Uganda experienced a 30% decrease in fertilizer imports in 2022, with local production from plants showing minimal impact. Rwanda's Smart Nkunganire System (SNS) and Mobile Application Ordering Process (MOPA) were discussed as innovative approaches for efficient subsidy distribution. Participants made several recommendations, including the creation of dashboards for better data representation, the need for early data requests, and pre-validation processes to streamline the validation efforts. The importance of joint workshops with Kenya for enhanced knowledge sharing was also emphasized.
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Agricultural development, Fertilizers