“During a visit to Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, USAID Administrator Samantha Power signed a collaboration agreement to pursue two sustainable and innovative initiatives designed to improve agricultural efficiency and productivity across the continent,” said a joint statement from OCP and USAID.
This is the “Space to Place” project, which aims to collect precise local data on soils and climate, which will serve as the basis for a decision-making tool intended to guide farmers towards optimal use of plant nutrition solutions.
These will be customized to meet the precise nutritional needs of their land and crops, in order to simultaneously improve soil health and sustainably strengthen their yields.
The “Rock Phosphate Amendment” project will evaluate the impact of the application of rock phosphate and innovative nutritional formulas based on crop yields and soil fertility.
This project will develop a decision support system for phosphate rock to help farmers identify which soils and crops will benefit most from this approach.
The agreement, which spans at least four years, provides for the engagement of other stakeholders and partners to advance these groundbreaking initiatives and encourage the adoption of these new tools by farmers across the continent.
During her visit, Ms Power observed ongoing research at the University and spoke with representatives of local cooperatives, gaining valuable insights into their experiences and the transformative potential of these projects.
During her visit, Ms Power observed ongoing research at the University and spoke with representatives of local cooperatives, gaining valuable insights into their experiences and the transformative potential of these projects.
She said: “OCP Group is an important partner in the major global food crisis we are facing. The agreement will leverage geospatial technology to provide farmers on the ground with recommendations on how to use fertilizers more efficiently. The data collected will also serve as the basis for predictions and concrete solutions to improve yields.”
OCP Group Chairman and CEO added: “OCP Group is delighted to strengthen its partnership with USAID, working closely on these cutting-edge projects to help unlock the potential of African farmers to feed not only Africa, but the world, in a way that aims to improve soil health, the environment and the climate.”
The announced collaboration involves combining the strengths of USAID’s “Space to Place” initiative and OCP Africa’s integrated approach to soil health and customization, to benefit millions of African farmers and strengthen the continent’s food security.
In this regard, OCP Group, through OCP Africa, will invest $30 million to support the efficient use of fertilizers in sub-Saharan Africa, complementing USAID’s $40 million investment for the expansion of the “Space to Place” initiative announced at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit held in Nairobi on May 7.
This brings the total investment envelope as of today to $100 million for this initiative, thereby directly supporting the Continental Action Plan adopted by the Nairobi Summit.
This establishes a basis for continued dialogue and cooperation between these two major contributors to agricultural development in Africa, thereby enhancing the impact and effectiveness of their work to deliver measurable development results across the continent, the statement concluded.
2024-09-24 13:20:29