Regional Soil Fertility Mapping Program of West Africa (RSFMP)

Agricultural productivity in West Africa remains low despite the significant agricultural potential of the region. There is a need to improve productivity by understanding the soil fertility constraints of existing croplands. The Regional Soil Fertility Mapping Program (RSFMP) of West Africa, established in December 2019, aims to support governments to develop sustainable agriculture to increase rural incomes, improve food security and permit the transition of subsistence crop farming system towards a sustainable production-driven system. The program is consistent with the productivity development strategies in Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. 

The RSFMP is expected to have a number of benefits for the region, including:

• Increased agricultural productivity,
• Improved food security,
• Increased rural incomes, and
• A more sustainable crop farming system.  

Program Objectives

The overall objective of the program is to improve smallholder agricultural productivity by helping them better manage their soils. Specifically, the program will develop balanced fertilizer products and integrated soil fertility management recommendations tailored to specific crops, soils, and agro-climatic conditions. The recommendations will boost yields and nutritional quality in a substantial and sustainable manner, resulting in increased returns on fertilizer investments.

It also aims to contribute to the efforts of the beneficiary governments in improving crop production and food security through:

• Mapping soils in major agricultural target areas,
• Developing fertilizer and soil fertility management recommendations for farmers, the fertilizer industry, and other stakeholders,
• Strengthening the capacity of national agricultural institutions to conduct sound soil fertility diagnosis and fertilizer recommendations, and
• Raising awareness among stakeholders, especially the fertilizer industry and farmer associations, of the importance of increasing access to and use of appropriate fertilizers and associated good agronomic practices.

ISFD Contribution 

The total cost of the implementation of the program is estimated at US$12 million out of which ISFD contributes US$5 million.

Planned Impacts

The program is expected to achieve the following results at the level of the six countries:

• Improved understanding of the spatial distribution of soil properties, soil fertility, plant nutrient status, and factors affecting soil nutrient supply capacity and fertilizer recovery.
• Evidence-based recommendations for fertilizer, soil, and crop management.
• Balanced fertilizer recommendations tailored to specific crop needs and soil and agro-climatic conditions.
• Substantial and sustainable increases in the yields and nutritional quality of major crops.
• Increased returns on fertilizer investments.