Mr. Mostafa Terrab, Chairman and CEO of OCP Group and Ms. Samantha Power, USAID Administrator (from left to right)
By Edward Makuzva
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and OCP Group, a world leader in plant nutrition solutions and phosphate-based fertilizers, have partnered to tackle critical barriers hindering Africa’s agricultural potential.
The partnership aims to :
- Improve agricultural production and markets and create new opportunities.
- Strengthen the resilience of communities to shocks
- Reduce hunger and improve nutrition. especially among mothers and children
- Increase the exchange of ideas, technologies and products that benefit citizens at home and communities abroad.
During a visit to University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Ms. Samantha Power – USAID
Administrator – signed a collaborative agreement to pursue two sustainable and innovative projects designed to enhance agricultural efficiency and productivity across the continent.
She added that the Space to Place Project will gather accurate local soil and climate data which will provide the basis for a “Decision Support Tool” to guide farmers on the optimal use of fertilizers.
The USAID administrator reaveld that these fertilizers will be customized to precisely meet the nutrient requirements of their land and crops, to simultaneously improve soil health and boost productivity sustainably.
Power highlighted that the second initiative, the Rock Phosphate Amendment Project will evaluate the impact on crop yields and
soil fertility of the application of phosphate rock and innovative nutrient formulas
based on it.
She said the project will develop a “Phosphate Rock Decisions Support System” to help identify soils and crops that can benefit most from this approach.
The agreement, set to span at least four years, includes plans to engage other stakeholders and partners to take forward these groundbreaking initiatives and to encourage the adoption of the new tools by farmers across the continent.
During her visit, Ms. Power observed ongoing research at the University and engaged
with local cooperative representatives, gaining insights into their experiences and the transformative potential of these projects.
“OCP Group is an important partner as we grapple with a very significant global food crisis.
“The agreement will use geospatial technology to provide farmers on the ground with recommendations on how to more efficiently use fertilizers. It harnesses data to provide real world predictions and solutions to improve yields.”, Power explained.
Mostafa Terrab, OCP Group’s chairman and CEO, expressed delight in deepening the partnership with USAID, noting the projects aim to “unleash the potential of African farmers to feed not only Africa but the world, in ways that aim to enhance soil health, the environment and the climate.”,Terrab added.
He said the collaboration announced consists of joining forces between USAID’s Space to Place initiative and OCP Africa’s integrated Soil Health and Customization approach to benefit millions of African farmers and enhance the continent’s food security.
The OCP Group, reaveled that through OCP Africa, will invest $30 million to support efficient fertilizer use across sub-Saharan Africa, complementing USAID’s USAID’s $40 million investment announced earlier this month at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
This brings the total investment envelope to $100 million for this initiative, which directly
supports the continental Action Plan that was adopted by the Nairobi Summit.
This establishes a basis for extended dialogue and cooperation between these two major contributors to African agricultural development, enhancing the impact and efficiency of their work to deliver measurable development outcomes across Africa.
