The Moroccan OCP Group inaugurated, on October 18 in Kaduna, in northern Nigeria, an ultramodern fertilizer blending plant during a ceremony which recorded the presence of the Managing Director of OCP Africa, Mohamed Anouar Jamali, of Vice-President West Africa and Managing Director of OCP Africa Nigeria, Mohamed Hettiti, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and other personalities from Nigeria.
This is its first factory of its kind in Africa, according to information relayed by the Moroccan press. Covering an area of 10 hectares, the infrastructure includes a blending unit with a production capacity of 120 tons per hour, a storage unit of 25,000 tons, a modern training center, an analysis laboratory equipped of the latest technologies, to guarantee product quality, as well as a model farm for carrying out agronomic trials and training farmers.
« This facility is not only intended for the production of fertilizers, but also to have a profound impact on the country’s agricultural value chain, » said Mohamed Anouar Jamali. But more than this West African country, the OCP Group intends to support the agricultural sector throughout the African continent. “OCP Africa is committed to contributing to the transformation of the food system on the continent, and Nigeria represents a strategic hub for our group,” he said.
The world’s leading producer of phosphate fertilizers had already announced its ambition to distribute, next year, 4 million tonnes of fertilizer on the continent where some countries face the risk of food insecurity aggravated by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
This supply of 4 million tonnes of fertilizers represents double the quantities supplied to African farmers in 2021. A total of 44 million farmers in 35 countries will be affected. The project will feed nearly 1 billion people across the continent by optimizing agricultural production.
“The current geopolitical situation reveals deep systemic fragilities in global agricultural systems. We must address the challenges facing African farmers, whether it is infrastructure, training or access to market and finance. We are happy to be able to make our contribution”, said Mostafa Terrab, CEO of the OCP Group, during the Annual Meetings of the World Bank held from October 10 to 16.
By OMA Newsletter N° 908 of 24/10/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
