ADMINISTRATIVE CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING SOIL FERTILITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS FOR HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: A REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/jaat.2025.1103.16Keywords:
Challenges,, Community,, Productivity,, Programs,, SoilAbstract
Soil fertility remains one of the most pressing agricultural challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of the population relies on farming as a primary livelihood. Declining soil fertility caused by over-cultivation, land degradation, deforestation, and climate variability continues to undermine horticulture production, food security and rural development across the region. While governments, development partners, and non-governmental organizations have introduced several soil fertility restoration and improvement programs, their effectiveness has been severely constrained by administrative challenges. This paper explores the major obstacles hindering successful implementation of such programs, focusing on weak institutional capacity, poor policy coordination, corruption, inadequate funding, and limited farmer participation. It argues that these governance-related issues often overshadow the technical innovations and financial investments introduced to enhance soil fertility management practices and horticultural crop yields. Furthermore, the study highlights how inadequate extension services and lack of accountability mechanisms diminish the adoption of soil fertility improvements practices at the grassroots level. The paper draws from existing literature and policy reports to analyze the recurring administrative bottlenecks and their implications for sustainable horticultural development programs. Findings revealed that unless these administrative barriers are addressed, efforts to improve soil fertility status will remain fragmented and unsustainable. The paper concludes by recommending stronger institutional frameworks, increased funding, transparent governance, inclusive farmer engagement as critical pathways for enhancing the success of soil fertility restoration and improvement programs. Ultimately, addressing administrative challenges is essential for achieving long-term food security, promoting rural livelihoods, and advancing agricultural transformation and horticultural production levels in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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