Among ongoing efforts to contribute to solutions, UNU’s Ghana-based Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (INRA) and other concerned bodies have forged a new strategic partnership-- the International Facilitation Group (IFG) -- under the Soil Fertility Initiative for Africa (SFI), to propose the technology, policy and institutional changes needed to address Africa’s soil fertility problem. The SFI was agreed by nations at the World Food Summit in Rome in 1996.

At recent meetings in Conakry, Guinea, the IFG reaffirmed the initial concepts of the Soil Fertility Initiative for Africa and called for completion of National Soil Fertility Action Plans to:

1. affirm the commitment of African governments to tackle the problem of poor soil fertility;

2. articulate the views and concerns of principal stakeholders;

3. identify gaps in knowledge and information and outline processes to fill them;

4. create incentives for the generation and adoption of soil fertility management technologies; and

5. spell out concrete strategies to mobilize internal and external resources to execute soil fertility management programmes.

UNU/INRA also works to ensure that well-trained, motivated scientists and technologists are available to formulate national action plans and carry them out. Based in Ghana, UNU/INRA is a catalyst in development of needed human capital in science and technology for effective conservation and management of Africa’s natural resources.

For more information on the problem of soil infertility, please click here to see detailed UNU/INRA news release.

Contact:
Prof. Uzo Mokwunye
Director, UNU/INRA
ISSER Bldg. Complex, Nasia Rd., U. of Ghana
Private Mail Bag, Kotoka Int'l Airport
Accra Ghana
T: 233-21-500396; F: 233-21-500792