African nations must prioritize importing high-quality fertilizers to strengthen the continent's position in global agricultural trade, according to officials at the 10th Argus Africa Fertilizer conference in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Sheila Keino, AFAP's Malawi country director, highlighted the importance of tailored agricultural extension services to educate Kenyan farmers on crop-specific fertilizer use. She noted partnerships with OCP-Group for soil analysis and regional market insights, with plans to establish a Kenyan office within two to three months to address policy gaps and smallholder needs.
African Union Commissioner Sacko Josefa Leonel warned that Africa uses only 3% of global fertilizers, with Northern African nations like Egypt and Morocco consuming 70% of the continent's supply. She stressed the need for scientific innovation to improve training and crop yields, emphasizing that quality fertilizers are critical for competitive agricultural exports.
OCP Africa Group, the largest Moroccan fertilizer producer, is expanding farmer training programs across the continent. CEO Karim Lotfi Senhadji stated the company's mission is to support sustainable food production as Africa's population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050.
The group is developing climate-adaptive fertilizer solutions, aiming to align agricultural practices with soil requirements and environmental challenges. This initiative comes as African governments face pressure to modernize farming systems to meet future food demands.
