Before the Russian-Ukraine military hostilities, forces like climate change, COVID 19, and political conflicts contributed to an ongoing global food shortage. Today, the situation is much worse.that around 193 million people in 53 countries or territories suffered acute food insecurity in 2021. This represents an increase of nearly 40 million people compared to the record numbers of 2020. FAO predicts a “grim outlook” for 2022.
As Russia and Ukraine, two of the world’s leading fertiliser exporting countries, engage in exchanging hostilities, countries like Nigeria have decided to seize the opportunity and quickly think outside the box.is expected to produce 3 million metric tons of granulated urea annually. A far cry from Russia’s annual 11 million tons, but it is a decent start compared to its African counterparts.
the price shock may be buffered for farmers in some developing countries with fertiliser subsidy regimes in places like Ghana. However, those regimes will place tremendous fiscal pressure on budgets already stressed by substantial government outlays during the COVID-19. Countries like Nigeria, once title holder of the “poverty capital of the world,” are expected to end dependence on imported products soon to propel local fertiliser productions. Questions of increasing food insecurity in the presence of local productions need not be asked.Advertisement