The global fertilizer supply chain has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a surge in prices across the globe. Following the pandemic, the war in Ukraine only further exacerbated the negative effects of the pandemic causing fertilizer shortages and even higher price hikes.

According to Growing Africa, citing a recent study, the prices of fertilizers have more than doubled in the past year, and farmers across Ghana and Kenya are scrambling to keep their crops alive.

Farmers in the West African nation of Nigeria are feeling the adverse effects of fertilizer prices, the New York Times reports.

Not only is fertilizer becoming scarce, but it is also largely unaffordable, resulting in hikes in the prices of food – threatening the livelihoods of families.

“We are in two different worlds, separated by airplanes and oceans,” Suleiman Chubado said, commenting on the war between Ukraine and Russia. “How can it be affecting us here?”

Ukraine was once the region’s largest grain exporter, but due to the conflict, the country was forced to reduce its production and exports, which resulted in higher prices for grains like wheat.

Climate change is also affecting the global food supply, as crops are under threat of heat waves, floods, and drought.

Africa has the potential to become a breadbasket through agricultural transformation, as the continent has more than 65% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. Despite low crop output, Africa continues to be the greatest food importer. Enhancing the accessibility and availability of fertilizer has the potential to help Africa become self-sufficient in food production and resilient to shocks like the fertilizer crisis, Growing Africa reports.