West Africa workshop on soil testing

Location: La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana

Duration: 30-31 March 2015

Event: A regional workshop to review existing soil testing kits and develop a road map for their efficient use in West Africa. It was organized by the USAID West Africa Fertilizer Program and its partners, AFAP and ECOWAS, in collaboration with AGRA, CABI, Columbia University, Soil Cares, and Envaserv Research Consult (ERC)

The main objectives of the workshop:

• Review the principles and functionality of mobile soil test kits in general
• Present and/or demonstrate mode of operation of some commonly used test kits including the SoilDoc Kit, the Hach, Hanna, the Palintest SK400 and the Soil Cares handheld MIR Soil scanner technology
• Explore opportunities for a harmonized approach between partners in validating/calibrating portable soil test kits and disseminating them in West Africa
• Explore a strategy for business development around the kits to promote ease of access of soil test kits for their effective use in fertilizer recommendations
• Introduce prospective private sector entrepreneurs to invest in simple systems for blending fertilizer formulas arising from the new soil testing exercises

ASHC/OFRA team involved in the meeting: Victor Clottey