A new $13.4 million fertiliser blending plant with capacity of producing 120 metric tonnes per hour is to be commissioned in Kaduna on Tuesday.
This will help to respond to the World Food Programme’s warning that the global fertiliser shortage could wipe $11billion off Africa’s food production value this year and create a catastrophic decline in output.
Deputy Managing Director, OCP Africa Nigeria, Mr Caleb Usoh, said the blending plant is a modern fertiliser production approach based on accelerated innovation and research that would go a long way towards supporting the economy with expected multiplier effects in agriculture value chain.
The NPK blending plant in Kaduna is estimated to gulp $13.4 million on completion with the facilities producing at an estimated capacity of 120 metric tonnes per hour.
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“In addition to the blending plant, we have provided for a centre of excellence where our partners and farmers will be trained on improved manufacturing and blending operations and good agricultural practices respectively,” Usoh said.
United States International Agency for Development (USAID)-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub (Trade Hub) had awarded a $1.4 million co-investment grant to OCP Africa to install modern blending equipment within the Kaduna fertiliser blending plant.
He said the production of fertiliser blends will result in increased competition, improved product quality and reduction in the unit cost of fertiliser to the farmer.