BY EPHREM ANDARGACHEW
The disparity between population growth and agricultural production output has been a national challenge in Ethiopia. Hence, to meet the food requirements of the growing population, agricultural production and productivity have to be increased.
The best way to increase agricultural production could be to enhance productivity by utilizing modern agricultural technologies. Besides, applying natural or artificial fertilizers that contain chemical elements is imperative to improve the growth and production of crops, vegetables, fruits, and so on. It is believed that fertilizers increase the soil’s natural fertility or replace chemical elements which are taken from the soil by the previous crops.
These days, due to soil depletion, plants would be difficult to grow without fertilizers. Water and seeds alone are not enough for the survival of plants. Hence, fertilizer is imperative input to rise production and healthy growth of crops by supplying the right balance of nutrients to the soil.
Ethiopia imports fertilizers, especially soil fertilizers that provide compounds in adequate amounts and proper balance to promote the growth of plants when other factors such as light, moisture, temperature, and soil structure are favorable.
Besides, where the fertility of the soil is not in a good condition, farmers use natural or manufactured fertilizers to supply the required plant nutrients. Soil fertilizer has also taken one of the most significant factors in gaining better yields in the nation’s agricultural sector. Nevertheless, the rising prices of fertilizer in the world market were a worrisome issue for farmers in some parts of the country last year.
According to Ethiopian Shipping and Logistic Service Enterprises, apart from the increasing prices of fertilizer in the world market, traveling fertilizers from the port of Djibouti to its destinations, the supply chain of fertilizer, security issues in some parts of the country, absence of timely distribution, inconsistency of supply, and so on were challenges last year.
Despite these challenges, Ethiopia overcame the shortage of soil and chemical fertilizers by devising different mechanisms. Taking lessons and experiences from last year, Ethiopia has made prior preparation to import and distribute fertilizers for this farming season. As a result, over 57 thousand 295 metric tons of N.P.S soil fertilizers have arrived at the port of Djibouti last week.
The huge ship called Great Comfort (MV GREAT COMFORT) delivered the imported soil fertilizer. When the soil fertilizer that hailed from Morocco reached the port of Djibouti, Ethiopian Shipping and Logistic Service Enterprises started shipping operations and transporting the fertilizers immediately into the country.
Ethiopia’s adequate preparation to transport the fertilizer has enabled it to quickly carry out shipping operations within hours when the ship entered the port of Djibouti. In addition, in the next 15 days, two huge ships that carry over 60,000 metric tons of soil fertilizer are expected to arrive in Djibouti, Ethiopian Shipping and Logistic Service Enterprises stated.
It will be remembered that the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistic Service Enterprises has successfully transported a large amount of soil fertilizer on time for the past three consecutive years, and this is the fourth time. Indeed, last year, the government and the concerned body took various measures to overcome the shortage of imported fertilizers and to control those who illegally increase the price. Nevertheless, among others, the efforts that have been made to replace imported fertilizer with homemade ones are more important than any other effort.
The country has prepared and utilized natural/organic fertilizers that can be easily and quickly prepared by farmers. Ethiopia has abundant resources for natural fertilizer preparation that substitute the imported once. Preparing natural fertilizer will also help to save the foreign currency of the country.
Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture indicated that the country has been preparing natural fertilizers that can fill up to 20% of the country’s fertilizer deficit. Especially, to fill the gaps in imported soil fertilizers, the Ministry in collaboration with stakeholders and the concerned bodies has been working on various types of natural fertilizers that can be easily and quickly prepared by farmers.
Because implementing alternative mechanisms to replace imported fertilizer is essential to the country since the price has increased in the global market. Moreover, regional states started preparing natural fertilizers last year to solve the shortage of soil and chemical fertilizers. Additionally, replacing imported fertilizer with natural fertilizer is a good initiative not only for the farmers but also for the youth. Because letting youths prepare and distribute natural fertilizers will help the creation of job opportunities for them.
Girma Chala and Gebreyes Gurmu (2017) academic article entitled “Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Tef (Eragrostis tef) in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia” stated that
natural fertilizers enhance yields of crops considerably over inorganic fertilizers. Because these materials decompose and release nutrients gradually over the crop growth period and they also build up organic carbon content essential for maintaining soil structure and the water-holding capacity of the soil.
Natural fertilizers could be prepared from different matters such as animal manure, human waste, food wastes, backyard wastes, sewage sludge, and composts which have long been recognized in agriculture as a beneficial source of plant nutrients and thereby improving the yield of crops. Apart from reducing cost, the preparation of natural fertilizers is an environmentally sound process for the treatment of many organic wastes, they indicated.
Ethiopian Shipping and Logistic Service Enterprises Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Roba Megersa elucidated that Ethiopia spends about half a billion US dollar every year to import fertilizer from abroad. Taking this fact into account, it is the right time to substitute imported fertilizer with local manufacturing fertilizer including preparing natural fertilizers. Preparing and substituting imported fertilizers will simplify the dissemination of fertilizers.
Preparing natural/organic fertilizers will indeed have multidimensional benefits such as saving foreign currency, easy travel of the fertilizers, creating job opportunities for the youth, and an environmentally sound process for the treatment of many organic wastes. Hence, the government, regional states, and the concerned bodies should continue with their focus on preparing natural fertilizers during this farming season which started last year. Since the farmers can easily prepare the organic/natural fertilizer, it reduces price while it increases the quality and quantity of production
The Ethiopian Herald January 4/2023
