Project on establishment of the model for fertilizer cultivation promotion using Burkina Faso phosphate rock | SATREPS | JST
This is an ongoing project in Burkina Faso launched in 2018 as part of SATREPS programme. (See write up below about SATREPS)
- Farmers in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa region face severe weather-related conditions such as unstable rainfall and low soil fertility.
- In order to enhance resilience against such conditions, improvement of agricultural productivity is indispensable. One of the key measures to improve crop productivity is the utilisation of inputs, specifically fertiliser.
- The lack of phosphorus, one of the essential nutrients for plant growth, severely limits crop production in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Burkina Faso (and even other sub-Saharan countries) has abundant deposits of low-grade phosphorus rock, and its effective use may allow to improve crop productivity and localise fertiliser production.
Project Summary
Development of domestically produced fertilisers using locally available low-grade phosphate rock and improvement of fertiliser application techniques
Soil fertility is low in Africa hence agricultural productivity is accordingly low, particularly because of the lack of phosphorus. Consequently, fertilisers are very expensive in Africa compared to other parts of the world. The project will make use of low-grade phosphate ore, available but underutilised in Burkina Faso, to develop domestically produced and reasonably priced fertilisers. It will also look into the improvement of fertiliser application techniques and evaluate the possibility of widespread use of the proposed fertiliser product. Furthermore, the project will also consider the technique of directly applying phosphate rock and propose this as an integrated strategy for its utilisation as an important natural resource of Burkina Faso, eventually contributing to stable food production in Africa.
Source: https://www.jst.go.jp/global/english/kadai/h2809_burkinafaso.html
Outcrop of phosphate ore found in Eastern Burkina Faso
Contribute to stable food production in Africa by developing and spreading domestically produced fertiliser
The project aims to improve agricultural productivity by developing and spreading domestically produced and reasonably priced fertilisers made from low-grade phosphate rock, currently an underutilised natural resource in Burkina Faso. Going forward, the outcomes of the project are expected to spread across Africa and beyond to contribute to stabilisation of food self-sufficiency in Africa and fertiliser security in Japan and other countries facing depletion of phosphate resources.
Project Details
What is SATREPS?
SATREPS: Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development
The SATREPS is a JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency) and JICA programme for research partnership between researchers in Japan and developing countries. It aims the social implementation of research outcomes by achieving three points:
For details about SATREPS visit https://www.jst.go.jp/global/english/index.html.
Project Details
| Research Institution in Japan | Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) |
|---|---|
| Research Institution in Burkina Faso | Institute of Environment and Agriculture Research (INERA) - Burkina Faso |
| Adoption fiscal year | FY 2016 |
| Research Period | 5 years |
| Project Purpose |
To develop a highly feasible model on crop cultivation with fertiliser by using local phosphate rocks (PR) in Burkina Faso (including the development of fertiliser production method, fertiliser application method and direct phosphate rock application method) |
| Research Outputs | 1. Development of a compound fertiliser adopted to local conditions by using indigenous phosphate rocks 2. Evaluation of fertilisation effect on major crops, improvement of the fertilisation technique and its dissemination 3. Development of the technique of direct application of phosphate rock as fertiliser 4. Proposition of integrated utilisation method of phosphate rocks for sustainable crop production |
Websites
・Project on establishment of a model for fertilising cultivation promotion using Burkina Faso phosphate rock [EN]
・Les phosphates naturels du Burkina Faso pour l’amélioration de la productivité agricole [FR]
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