A farmer holds livestock manure that he will use to fertilize crops. (AP)

Namibia is facing a spike in fertilizer prices, which is driving up food prices in Africa, and would welcome a fertilizer donation from Russia, ambassador Clemens Handuukeme Kashuupulwa said, as quoted by Sputnik.

"Namibia is faced with the challenge of the high cost of crop production inputs, including fertilizer. If extended to Namibia, the Russian offer to transport fertilizer for free would go a long way in mitigating this challenge," the ambassador said.

Food and fertilizer prices rose when the US and Europe restricted Russian grain and fertilizer exporters' access to ports, insurance, and finance, but stopped short of boycotting Russian exports entirely.

According to the Namibian envoy, Russian fertilizer export limitations to Africa have increased the cost of fertilizers in Namibia by more than 50%, "ultimately raising the cost of production and, consequently, the high cost of food."

He suggested that the southern African country, which has enormous swaths of productive farming area, could collaborate with Russia on grain production. A donation of fertilizers would boost its national food security and self-sufficiency, as per the ambassador.

It is worth noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin has lately announced that Russia is ready to export potash fertilizers to developing countries free of charge.

Russia alone in 2021 was the leading exporter of nitrogen fertilizers, the second major supplier of potassium fertilizers, and the third-largest supplier of phosphorous fertilizers.