Rabat – As part of its Fertilizer Relief Program aiming to address food insecurity in Africa, OCP Africa is set to provide 10,000 tons of fertilizers adapted to the cocoa sector in 20 cocoa-growing regions in Ivory Coast, supporting 100,000 farmers for the current agricultural season.
During the launch ceremony, OCP Africa’s Senior President for West Africa, Mohamed Hettiti as well as OCP Africa Country Manager Louis Koko reaffirmed the company’s commitment to promoting a strong cocoa crop for Ivorian farmers.
OCP Africa, représentée par @HettitiM et @jkokolouis, a lancé la distribution de 10KT d’engrais adaptés pour soutenir 100K fermiers dans 20 régions cacaoyères en , réaffirmant ainsi son engagement à promouvoir une culture forte du cacao au service des producteurs ivoiriens. pic.twitter.com/IjtpbqRL6e
— OCP AFRICA (@OCP_Africa) March 24, 2023
“The use of fertilizers contributes to the improvement of the soil fertility of your cocoa plantations and improves the productivity of your orchards, which positively impacts your income,” the Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA) quoted Ivorian Minister of State Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani as saying.
The minister urged the farmers to be “very receptive” to the initiative and to make “good use” of the fertilizers.
Hettiti emphasized that, in addition to fertilizer donations, farmers will receive training, and five agricultural service centers for farmers and small mechanization will be established.
“We will help the 22 cooperatives in small mechanization and we will make more than 1,600 analyses to identify, characterize the soil and then give good advice to our producers,” he said.
OCP launched a similar initiative in Ivory Coast in 2017, opening the OCP School LAB Cacao initiative in the West African country to improve agricultural productivity through a fertilization method adapted to local soils.
Throughout the campaign, 1,200 farmers received advice on the rational use of fertilizers after a free analysis of their farms, and 5,000 farmers were trained on good agricultural practices in terms of soil fertilization.
OCP has been active in supporting smallholder farmers and African governments to address food insecurity challenges.
In October 2022, OCP allocated four million tonnes of fertilizers as part of its commitment to improving Africa’s food security. According to the company, the fertilizer supply program aims to increase yields for 44 million farmers in 35 African countries, including Morocco.
Read also: OCP To Allocate 4 Million Tonnes of Fertilizers To Boost Africa’s Food Security
