OCP Africa Champions Agricultural Transformation at Food and Energy Security Conference

Dike Onwuamaeze

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

The was declared by the Country Manager of OCP Africa- Nigeria, Mr. Oluwatoba Clement Asana, while highlighting the company’s strategic initiatives that are aimed at transforming agriculture in Africa at the recent 2024 Food and Energy Security in Africa Conference that was held in Lagos, Nigeria.

The event, which was hosted by White & Case LLP in collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank), 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, Asana underlined the immense potential of Africa’s vast arable land and the urgent need to unlock its value.

He stated that Africa possesses over 60 per cent of the world’s arable land but contributes only 10 per cent to global food production, noting that this underscored the urgent need for action to harness the continent’s agricultural potential.

He explained that OCP Africa 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).

Asana said: “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.”

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

He also 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 that are 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.

Asana said: “Another of the company’s standout initiatives 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 also spoke extensively about the customisation efforts of OCP Africa in all 35 countries in Africa where OCP Africa has consistently shown its commitment to the Africa continent, including its 12 subsidiaries.

Asana also emphasised the need for collaboration between agribusinesses with governments and other stakeholders, saying that “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.”

He 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.

Commenting on the collaborations between OCP Africa and the NSIA, Asana mentioned the strategic importance of the $1.4B 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.

He also spoke on the plans of the parent company, OCP Group, and its sustainability projects of meeting 100 per cent 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, OCP 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 President and CEO of the African Finance Corporation (AFC), Mr. Samaila Zubairu and the CEO of NSIA, Mr. Aminu Umar-Sadiq, CEO of NSIA.

Also present at the event were notable 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, Mr. Boye Olusanya; AVP Investments at AFC, Mr. 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.