Rabat – Construction is officially underway for the highly anticipated Agricultural Service Center in Kpalime, Togo, marking a significant milestone in the collaboration between OCP Group and the Togolese government, with the support of the World Bank.
The ground-breaking ceremony took place on June 9, paving the way for a transformative project that aims to “enhance the competitiveness of agricultural value chains and strengthen farmers’ capabilities by providing a wide range of essential products and services,” said OCP in a press release.
The center will serve as a hub for innovative farming practices, providing farmers “easy access to quality agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and crop protection products.”
Togo’s President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe laid the foundation stone during the ground-breaking ceremony which took place around a week after the Moroccan phosphate giant and the Togolese government signed the agreements relating to the project.
The project is a testament to OCP Group and the Togolese government’s “commitment to innovative, value-creating agriculture in the country,” added the statement.
It will provide localized agronomic services and advice to farmers, enabling them “personalized support” to improve their agricultural practices.
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One of the key components of the Agricultural Service Center will be the production of fertilizers tailored to the specific needs of soils and crops, made possible by the provision of a Smart Blender.
This technology will enable farmers to obtain customized fertilizer blends to optimize crop and soil nutrition and improve yields, indicated the statement.
In addition, the center will be equipped with a modern laboratory for soil analysis, facilitating the establishment and updating of the soil fertility map.
The laboratory will also ensure quality control of fertilizers by measuring the content of nutrients and additives , as well as provide soil analysis and quality control services for other regions and partners, according to the statement.
Beyond that, the center will make agricultural machinery and irrigation equipment available to farmers, along with a mechanical workshop for preventive and corrective maintenance of the machines.
In addition to these key services, the center will include a call center offering ongoing support to farmers, a model farm to demonstrate good agronomic practices, and a network of agricultural advisors to support and enhance farmers’ capacities.
Commenting on the new project, Managing Director of OCP Africa Mohamed Anouar Jamali stressed that it will greatly contribute to Togo’s agricultural development.
The Agricultural Service Center in Kpalime “will provide Togolese farmers with the tools, knowledge, and services they need to enhance their productivity and profitability,” he explained.
“We are proud to collaborate with the Togolese government on this key initiative for agriculture and we thank the World Bank for their support,” Jamali added. “Together, we are working towards the transformation of the Togolese agricultural sector, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and empowerment of farmers.”
The Kpalime-based center reflects OCP Africa’s commitment to promoting sustainable agricultural development in Africa and supporting the efforts of the Togolese government to modernize agricultural value chains, concluded the statement.
