OCP Africa, a subsidiary of Moroccan fertilizer giant OCP Group, has announced a partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Sierra Leone.
The partnership, which was formalized on Thursday through a Memorandum of Understanding, aims to prioritize soil health, empower farmers, and foster sustainable practices within Sierra Leone’s Agricultural sector.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Senior Vice President for West Africa at OCP Mehdi Filali and Musa Kpaka, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.
OCP Africa said in a statement that the partnership aims for a “just agricultural transition putting soils and farmers at its core.”
“This alliance represents a significant step towards a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural sector in Sierra Leone,” the statement added.
Central to the partnership is a series of initiatives aimed at driving positive change at the grassroots level.
This includes the last-mile distribution of farm inputs and services, which would ensure that essential agricultural inputs and services reach farmers in even the most remote areas.
There will also be a concerted effort to establish local production facilities for speciality fertilizers to address specific soil deficiencies.
In addition, the partnership will prioritize soil health and fertility interventions, laying the foundation for long-term agricultural sustainability and resilience.
Digital technologies will also be leveraged to provide farmers with real-time information and tailored advice through a digital decision support platform.
The partnership will also establish integrated model farms to showcase best practices in sustainable agriculture.
Finally, the demonstration trials will be conducted to showcase the effectiveness of various agricultural technologies and practices.
The partnership was signed on the sidelines of the African Summit on Fertilizers and Soil Health (AFSH), which took place in Nairobi between May 7 and 9.
The summit aims to address crucial issues related to soil health, fertilizer use, and sustainable agricultural practices across the African continent.
Organized by the African Union, the event brought together various stakeholders, including policymakers, scientists, farmers, and representatives from the private sector, to discuss long-term solutions to food and nutrition deficiencies in Africa.
