Africa-Press – Eswatini. A bold leap for African agriculture was taken on May 30, 2025, when SADC Ministers approved the establishment of a Regional Soil Health and Fertiliser Hub to be hosted by CCARDESA.
This is a major milestone for the Southern Africa’d agricultural sector which is set to turn the tide on the declining soil fertility and poor crop yields.
The landmark decision was taken on May 30, 2025, during the joint meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture. The newly approved hub will be hosted by the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA).
The move follows months of high-level consultations and collaborative efforts between CCARDESA, the SADC Secretariat, and a host of development partners including FAO, AUDA-NEPAD, and AGRA, among others.
Together, they shaped a proposal aimed at coordinating the implementation of the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA) under the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Action Plan – a continental strategy endorsed during the Nairobi Declaration of 2024.
Professor Cliff Dlamini, Executive Director of CCARDESA, said the approval marks a new era of agricultural progress for the region. “This hub is not just about fertilizers and soils,” he explained. “It’s about unlocking the full potential of African agriculture by grounding it in science, sustainability, and solidarity.”
Dlamini noted that the hub would provide technical leadership to improve soil health management and promote smarter fertiliser use in order to enhance crop productivity and secure food systems. “It’s the kind of regional action that responds directly to the realities our farmers face on the ground,” he added.
The proposal was validated by stakeholders representing member states, farmer organisations, academia, and the private sector during a consultative session in Johannesburg in March this year. The Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), funded by the World Bank, and the EU-backed CAADP-XP4 programme played key roles in supporting both the development and rollout of the initiative.
In addition to establishing the hub, the ministers also: Welcomed EU support for a new regional agroecology programme to be coordinated by CCARDESA,
Approved new CCARDESA Board of Directors members, And provided strategic guidance on amendments to CCARDESA’s operational Charter.
“The momentum is building,” Professor Dlamini said. “With the right resources and partnerships, we can build a future where soil is not only a foundation for crops but also for economic resilience.”
As Eswatini played host to this key meeting, the spotlight was firmly on regional collaboration, science-led development, and food security. The newly approved Soil Health and Fertiliser Hub is expected to be a springboard for policy coherence, sustainable agriculture, and shared prosperity across the SADC region.
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