Morocco comes to the rescue in the African food crisis

25 October 2022

OCP announced last week that it will bolster its fertilizers exports to Africa to 4 million tons in 2023 compared to 2 million tons in 2021, a decision that will help address the fertilizer supply gap on a continent where most countries are reliant on soil nutrient imports.

The announcement by Morocco’s phosphates and fertilizers producer OCP to double its soil nutrient exports to Africa was a boon for a continent that bears the brunt of the surge in commodities prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Africa has the highest proportion of people experiencing severe hunger representing 21% of its population. The UN food and agriculture organization said 282 million Africans suffer from undernourishment.

Reuters quoted the Head of OCP Africa saying the move benefited 4 million African farmers in 20 countries so far.

Besides acting on the supply dimension, the OCP has invested over 6 billion dollars to build fertilizers plants in Nigeria and Ethiopia as well as Ghana, giving these countries potential not only to meet all their fertilizers needs but also leaving space for export to neighboring African countries.

OCP has also set up laboratories in the 12 African countries where it directly operates, offering customized fertilizers and blenders to meet the needs of different African soils.

Thanks to OCP’s supply of customized fetrtilizers, Senegal’s millet yield jumped 63% and Nigeria’s corn yield 48%, with similar results in Ghana and elsewhere. OCP’s involvement in Ethiopia has seen wheat, corn, and teff yields increase by up to 37%.

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https://northafricapost.com/61938-african-food-crisis-morocco-comes-to-the-rescue.html