Oluwatoba Clement Asana, OCP Africa-Nigeria Country Director, expressed concern as to why Africa owns over 60 percent of the planet’s arable land while contributing only 10 percent. percent of global food production.

Clement said this while highlighting the company’s strategic initiatives aimed at transforming agriculture in Africa at the 2024 Africa Food and Energy Security Conference held recently in Lagos.

OCP Africa, a player in the African agricultural sector, also highlighted that agro-industrial conglomerates play a vital role in finding solutions for sustainable agricultural resilience across Africa and in facilitating food security on the continent.

The event, organized by White & Case LLP in collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), AFREXIM and the African Finance Corporation (AFC), brought together industry leaders, policy makers and experts to discuss critical issues related to food and energy security. Africa.

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Speaking during a fireside chat at the conference, Asana highlighted the immense potential of Africa’s vast arable land and the urgent need to unlock its value.

He said Africa has more than 60 percent of the planet’s arable land, but contributes only 10 percent of global food production, stressing that this highlights the urgent need for action to harness the agricultural potential of the continent.

He explained that OCP Africa promotes sustainable agriculture and contributes to food security in Africa, noting that the company focuses on empowering smallholder farmers by providing tailor-made fertilizer solutions and innovative initiatives to across the continent and advancing agribusiness through research and development (R&D). .

He said: “As a business, if we don’t focus on agriculture, we are going to face more problems – problems that are already manifesting today in parts of Africa. When resources become scarce, competition intensifies, leading to instability and insecurity, even at the household and family level. This is what we are seeing, and agriculture must be part of the solution.

He also explained OCP Africa’s strategic approach, which includes the use of mobile laboratories or “school labs” to provide in-depth soil testing, personalized recommendations, training and customized fertilizers to meet specific crop needs. and regions.

OCP Africa Nigeria Country Manager has announced significant investments made by the company to improve production capabilities in Nigeria, including a $43.1 million investment in blending facilities in Ogun, Kaduna States and Sokoto, thereby contributing to the country’s annual fertilizer production capacity of over 500,000 metric. tonnes per year.

He mentioned that similar projects have been carried out in Rwanda while others in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Zambia and Ethiopia are at different stages.

Another of the company’s notable initiatives that he mentioned is the last mile input retail initiative called Farm and Fortune Hub.

With over 200 operational hubs in Nigeria, OCP Africa improves accessibility by bringing quality fertilizers and inputs closer to smallholder farmers and farming communities.

He spoke at length about OCP Africa’s customization efforts in the 35 African countries where OCP Africa has always shown its commitment to the African continent, including its 12 subsidiaries.

Asana also highlighted the need for collaboration between agribusinesses, governments and other stakeholders, saying: “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 our initiatives have the greatest impact.

He disclosed that the collaborative efforts aim to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, not only by increasing crop yields from 1.2 tonnes per hectare to 5.5 tonnes per hectare, but by creating a sustainable model that empowers farmers , strengthens food security and fuels agriculture in the long term. long-term economic growth for the nation.

Referring to the collaborations between OCP Africa and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, he spoke of the strategic importance of the $1.4 billion multi-purpose industrial platform for the development of African agriculture and the expected contributions of the commercial agricultural partnership which aims to cultivate 150,000 arable lands in Africa. Nigeria.

Asana also spoke about parent company OCP Group’s plans and its sustainability plans to meet 100% of its water needs from unconventional sources by the end of 2024, producing 20 million tons of fertilizer and many more aimed at reaching the carbon target. neutrality by 2027. According to him, the OCP Group is investing a total of $13 billion between 2023 and 2027 to achieve its objectives.

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The forum also saw keynote speeches from key stakeholders including Samaila Zubairu, Chief Executive Officer of the African Finance Corporation (AFC), and Aminu Umar-Sadiq, CEO of NSIA. Also present at the event were notable dignitaries, such as Mr. Mohamed Hettiti, Director of Operations and Senior Vice President for East Africa (OCP Africa); Boye Olusanya, Managing Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc; Abiola Osho, Assistant Vice President of Investments at AFC; Iruansi Itoandon, project manager for the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative at NSIA; Melissa Butler, partner at White & Case LLP; and Alain-Thierry Mbongue, regional director of operations of Afreximbank.

Participants highlighted the need to establish collaborative frameworks and address challenges such as access to finance, infrastructure gaps and reducing food losses.

OCP Africa reaffirms its commitment to addressing Africa’s agricultural challenges by investing in infrastructure, empowering farmers and leveraging R&D to drive sustainable growth and food security.