OCP Africa and Sierra Leone Join Forces to Promote Sustainable Agriculture

News in Brief: - OCP Africa and Sierra Leone's Ministry of Agriculture signed an agreement to promote sustainable agriculture in the country. - The partnership will focus on improving soil health, farmer support, and access to resources through various initiatives. OCP Africa, a leading fertiliser producer, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Sierra Leone have signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to foster sustainable agricultural practices in Sierra Leone. The agreement was formalised during the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. It signifies a collaborative effort between OCP Africa representatives and a delegation from Sierra Leone, led by His Excellency Musa Kpaka, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, and Her Excellency Isatu Aminata Bundu, Sierra Leone's Ambassador to Kenya. Essentially, the partnership focuses on empowering local stakeholders in agricultural management and planning. It aims to close the yield gap faced by Sierra Leonean farmers while simultaneously tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. Additionally, it seeks to improve the livelihoods of farmers and ensure their access to high-quality soil and plant nutrition solutions. Meanwhile, OCP Africa and the Ministry have expressed readiness to work together to implement various initiatives to achieve these goals. These initiatives include:

• Last-mile distribution: Ensuring essential farm inputs and services reach even the most remote farming communities.
• Local fertiliser production: Encouraging the production of speciality fertilisers within Sierra Leone.
• Soil health and fertility interventions: Promoting practices that enhance soil health and fertility.
• Digital decision-support platform: Providing farmers with digital tools to optimise agricultural decision-making.
• Integrated model farms: Establishing demonstration farms showcasing sustainable agricultural techniques.
• Mother-Baby Trial Approach: Implementing a research methodology that compares the effectiveness of different fertiliser blends.

Speaking on the development, the Chief Operating Officer of OCP Africa, Mohammed Hettiti, stated that the body was thrilled to partner with Sierra Leone's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in their pursuit of sustainable agriculture and food security. He also reiterated OCP Africa's expertise in farmer support, research and development, and fertiliser production. He added that these will be leveraged to support Sierra Leone's agricultural development.