|
|
DISCUSSION No. 147 • FSN Forum digest No. 1333
|
|
|
Online consultation for developing the Code of Conduct for the Management of Fertilizers
|
|
until
11 February 2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Colleagues,
Having entered the last week of the
Online consultation for developing the Code of Conduct for the Management of Fertilizers (CoCoFe), we would like to share a further update on the comments received.
Let us also encourage you to take advantage of the remaining days to post your ideas and to help make the process of developing
the CoCoFe as inclusive as possible.
Your input is indeed necessary to allow the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) to better frame the multifaceted
needs of all stakeholders who would use the CoCoFe or be impacted by the use of the CoCoFe.
For the introduction to this consultation, the guiding questions and the full versions of the comments received so far,
please refer to the
webpage, which is available in
English,
French and
Spanish.
To take part, you can post your comments online upon
registration or send them to
[log in to unmask].
We look forward to keep learning from you!
Your FSN Forum team
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED
|
|
FAO
Publications Unit
|
|
The FAO Publications Unit shares a selection of publications that provide further insight on fertilizers and soil management.
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
Aklilu
Nigussie, Ethiopian Institutes of Agricultural Research, Ethiopia
|
|
Aklilu shares his thoughts on the objectives of the CoCoFe arguing that they should aim at improving soil fertility and
food production rather than simply maintaining current levels. He also proposes the inclusion of animal health and the elimination of toxicities of food plants caused by inorganic fertilizer application.
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
Dr.
Amanullah, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan
|
|
Dr. Amanullah stresses the need for UN agencies to address the issue of high fertilizer prices, which in developing countries
is often paired with low soil fertility.
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
David
Ojo, NIHORT, Nigeria
|
|
David highlights the fragility of many tropical soils calling for particular support and provision of information at
local level.
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
John
Conway, Royal Agricultural University, United Kingdom
|
|
John suggests to consider extension officers, agronomists and other fertiliser advisers as the main audience of the CoCoFe
and to expand the coverage to all nutrient materials. Given the lack of extension workers in many parts of the world, private companies should be involved in providing fertilizer information at the point of sale.
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
Philippe
Eveillard, Union des Industries de la fertilisation (UNIFA), France
|
|
The Union des Industries de la Fertilisation shares detailed comments on the questions posed and argues that the CoCoFe's
scope could be expanded to cover measures aimed at improving nutrition and soil fertility such as the use of pulses as green manure.
Read
the contribution (in French)
|
|
|
Suresh
Kumar
Chaudhari, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, India
|
|
Suresh shares information on the governance of fertilizer use in India as per the 1985 Fertilizer (Control) Order (FCO).
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
E.V.S.
Prakasa Rao, Independent Researcher, India
|
|
E.V.S. invites to consider indigenously available materials that could be incorporated with fertilizers to enhance their
use efficiency as well as reduce adverse effects on environment.
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
Dhanya
Praveen, Environment Protection Training and Research Institute, India
|
|
Dhanya shares the following suggestions:
·
Provide incentives for sustainable Farm management especially for maintaining diversified cropping systems
·
Reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions due to overuse of fertilizers.
·
Use GPS tracking to monitor emissions and other impacts of overuse of fertilizers.
·
Use traditional knowledge on locally adapted varieties and for producing on-farm fertilizers
·
Scale up organic agriculture as part of Climate Smart Agriculture initiatives also at local level.
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
Mireia
Llorente, University of Extremadura, Spain
|
|
Mireia highlight the difference between soil management and fertilization arguing that sustainable agriculture should
primarily be achieved through the proper management of soil resources, with mineral fertilization being used only as supplementary measure.
Read
the contribution (in Spanish)
|
|
|
J
G Ray, School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, India
|
|
JG highlights the importance of a proper application of fertilizers, something that is lacking due to limited education
in some rural areas.
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
Lydia
Mhoro, Sokoine University of Agriculture, United Republic of Tanzania
|
|
Lydia suggests that in order minimize the side effects of fertilizer use, the following should be included in the CoCoFe:
·
emphasize the quality of the carrier materials used by fertilizer manufacturers;
·
include the application time and method for a specific fertilizer based on their solubility;
·
soil testing before fertilizer application should be emphasized to minimize overdosing;
·
organic fertilizers should be integrated with industrial fertilizers.
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
José
Antonio Cayuela, CSIC, Spain
|
|
José argues that the CoCoFe structure should reflect the importance of the different types of fertilizers (both synthetic
and organic) and that the structure of the 'Good agricultural practices for fertilization', developed in countries such as Spain could provide a good blueprint for the CoCoFe.
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
Brajendra
Parmar, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad India
|
|
In his first comment, Brajendra shares an example from India where Government action led to a substantial improvement
in the use of nutrients.
Read
the first contribution
In his second comment, Brajendra stresses the importance of sound soil health management as a necessary starting point
for the proper usage of fertilizers.
Read
the second contribution
In his third comment, Brajendra expands on the previous argument detailing the roles of the different players in properly
and sustainably managing soils.
Read
the third contribution
|
|
|
Dick
Tinsley, Colorado State University, United States of America
|
|
In his first comment, Dick highlights the financial limitation present in the public sector of many developing country,
stressing the importance of the private sector for handling the distribution of fertilizers.
Read
the first contribution
In his second post, Dick warns against equating illiteracy with lack of intelligence, stating that many illiterate farmers
are fully capable of taking informed and sensible decisions.
Read
the second contribution
|
|
|
Elisabeth
Bömcke, Fertilizers Europe, Belgium
|
|
Fertilizers Europe shares suggestion on how to improve the proposed objectives of the CoCoFe and proposes the addition
of two new ones, namely "Improving food quality and nutrition security through optimal use of plant nutrients" and "Managing fertilizers to maintain or increase soil structure and fertility".
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
Muhammad
Riaz, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan
|
|
To counter escalating fertilizer prices, Muhammad advocates the use of the 4R approach i.e. right nutrient source, right
rate of fertilizer application, right time of application and right place.
Read
the contribution
|
|
|
|