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Tag: OCP Africa

  • OCP boosts fertilizer production with $43.1m

    OCP boosts fertilizer production with $43.1m

    OCP Africa, a prominent advocate for agricultural sustainability across the continent, has made significant strides in enhancing Nigeria’s fertilizer production capacity through a $43.1 million investment in blending facilities.

    This initiative, part of the company’s broader efforts to transform agriculture in Africa, was spotlighted by the Country Manager of OCP Africa-Nigeria, Engr Oluwatoba Clement Asana, at the 2024 Food and Energy Security in Africa Conference held in Lagos.

    The conference, organised by White & Case LLP in partnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), AFREXIM, and African Finance Corporation (AFC), provided a platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss solutions for Africa’s food and energy challenges.

    Asana revealed that OCP Africa’s investment in fertilizer blending facilities spans Ogun, Kaduna, and Sokoto states, contributing over 500,000 metric tons per annum to the nation’s fertilizer production capacity. This development, he said, addresses critical supply gaps in the agricultural sector and empowers farmers with locally produced, high-quality fertilizer solutions tailored to Nigeria’s diverse soil and crop needs.

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    “These facilities are a cornerstone of our commitment to boosting agricultural productivity in Nigeria. By increasing local production, we are reducing dependency on imports, stabilizing fertilizer prices, and ensuring that farmers have consistent access to the inputs they need to succeed,” Engr Asana stated.

    According to the organisation’s Country Manager, its investments in infrastructure align with its broader mission to foster sustainable agriculture and food security across the continent with initiatives that include the introduction of “School Labs,” which provide mobile soil testing, tailored fertilizer recommendations, and training programmes for farmers.

    The company’s Farm and Fortune Hub initiative, with over 200 hubs operational in Nigeria, he noted, brings fertilizers and other quality inputs closer to smallholder farmers. This last-mile retailing solution, he added, is vital in bridging accessibility gaps and supporting farming communities.

    “Improving accessibility is essential for empowering farmers. Our hubs ensure that fertilizers and other critical inputs are within reach, particularly for smallholder farmers who form the backbone of Nigeria’s agriculture,” Engr Asana explained.

    He underlined the customisation efforts of the organisation in all 35 countries in Africa where it has consistently shown its commitment to the Africa continent, including its 12 subsidiaries, emphasising the need for collaboration between agribusinesses with governments and other stakeholders.

    He said: “The role of collaboration in agriculture cannot be overstated. We don’t keep the results to ourselves; we work with our partners in government, industry, local communities, and research institutes to ensure that our initiatives have the broadest impact.”

    Engr Asana disclosed that collaborative efforts are focused on transforming the agricultural landscape in Nigeria, not just by increasing crop yields from 1.2 tons per hectare to 5.5 tons per hectare, but by creating a sustainable model that empowers farmers, strengthens food security, and fuels long-term economic growth for the nation.

    He also highlighted the collaborations between OCP Africa and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, underlining the strategic importance of the $1.4 billion Multipurpose Industrial Platform’s to the development of Africa’s agriculture and the contributions expected from the commercial farming partnership which is meant to cultivate 150,000 arable lands in Nigeria.

    The organisation’s parent company, OCP Group, is making substantial investments in sustainability, according to Engr Asana, targeting carbon neutrality by 2027 and committing $13 billion between 2023 and 2027 to expand global fertilizer production. These efforts, he mentioned, are expected to strengthen Africa’s position as a global agricultural powerhouse.

  • OCP Africa backs agricultural transformation at food, energy security conference

    OCP Africa backs agricultural transformation at food, energy security conference

    OCP Africa, a leading player in Africa’s agricultural sector, has emphasised that agro-industrial conglomerates play a critical role in driving solutions for sustainable agricultural resilience across Africa and facilitating food security on the continent.

    Country Manager of OCP Africa- Nigeria, Engr. Oluwatoba Clement Asana, stated this while highlighting the company’s strategic initiatives aimed at transforming agriculture in Africa at the 2024 Food and Energy Security in Africa Conference held in Lagos recently.

    The event, hosted by White & Case LLP in collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), AFREXIM, and African Finance Corporation (AFC), brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss critical issues on food and energy security plaguing Africa.

    Speaking during a fireside chat at the conference, Engr. Asana underlined the immense potential of Africa’s vast arable land and the urgent need to unlock its value.

    He said that Africa possesses over 60 percent of the world’s arable land yet contributes only 10 percent to global food production, noting that this underscores the urgent need for action to harness the continent’s agricultural potential.

    He explained that the organisation is driving sustainable agriculture and contributing to food security in Africa, noting that the company is focusing on empowering smallholder farmers through the provision of tailored fertilizer solutions and innovative initiatives across the continent and advancing agribusiness through Research and Development (R&D).

    “As a company, if we don’t focus on agriculture, we are going to face more problems—problems that are already manifesting in some parts of Africa today. Once resources become scarce, competition grows, leading to instability and insecurity, even at the household/family levels. That is what we’re seeing, and agriculture must be part of the solution,” Engr. Asana stated.

    He also elaborated on OCP Africa’s strategic approach, which includes the use of mobile laboratories or “School Labs” to provide extensive soil testing, tailored recommendations, training, and customized fertilizers that meet specific crop and regional needs.

    The organisation’s Country Manager reeled out significant investments made by the company to enhance production capabilities in Nigeria, including a $43.1 million investment in blending facilities across Ogun, Kaduna, and Sokoto states, contributing to the country’s annual fertilizer production capacity by over 500,000 metric tons Per annum.

    He mentioned that similar projects have been completed in Rwanda while others in Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, Tanzania, Zambia, and Ethiopia are at various stages.

    Another of the company’s standout initiatives he mentioned is the last mile input retailing initiative called Farm and Fortune Hub.

    “With over 200 hubs operational in Nigeria, OCP Africa is improving accessibility by bringing fertilizers and quality inputs closer to smallholder farmers and farming communities,” he noted.

    He underlined the customisation efforts of the organisation in all 35 countries in Africa where it has consistently shown its commitment to the African continent, including its 12 subsidiaries, emphasising the need for collaboration between agribusinesses with governments and other stakeholders.

    He said: “The role of collaboration in agriculture cannot be overstated. We don’t keep the results to ourselves; we work with our partners in government, industry, local communities, and research institutes to ensure that our initiatives have the broadest impact.”

    Engr. Asana disclosed that collaborative efforts are focused on transforming the agricultural landscape in Nigeria, not just by increasing crop yields from 1.2 tons per hectare to 5.5 tons per hectare, but by creating a sustainable model that empowers farmers, strengthens food security, and fuels long-term economic growth for the nation.

    Talking about the collaborations between OCP Africa and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, he indicated the strategic importance of the $1.4 billion Multipurpose Industrial Platforms to the development of Africa’s agriculture and the contributions expected from the commercial farming partnership which is meant to cultivate 150,000 arable lands in Nigeria.

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    He also spoke on the plans of the parent company, OCP Group, and its sustainability projects of meeting 100 percent of its water needs from non-conventional sources by the end of 2024, producing 20 million tonnes of fertilizers and many others geared towards attaining carbon neutrality by 2027. According to him, the Group is investing a total of $13 billion between 2023 and 2027 to achieve its targets.

    The forum also featured keynote speeches from key stakeholders, including the President and CEO of the African Finance Corporation (AFC), Samaila Zubairu and CEO of NSIA, Aminu Umar-Sadiq. Also present were dignitaries such as the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President for East Africa (OCP Africa), Mr Mohamed Hettiti; Managing Director of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Boye Olusanya; AVP Investments at AFC, Abiola Osho; Project Lead for the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative at NSIA, Iruansi Itoandon; Partner at White & Case LLP, Melissa Butler; and Regional Chief Operating Officer of Afreximbank, Alain-Thierry Mbongue.

    Participants emphasised the need for collaborative frameworks and addressing challenges like access to financing, infrastructure gaps, and reducing food losses.

    OCP Africa reaffirms its commitment to addressing Africa’s agricultural challenges by investing in infrastructure, empowering farmers, and leveraging R&D to drive sustainable growth and food security.