OCP Africa, a subsidiary of the world’s leading fertilizer production company, OCP Group, has entered into an agreement with two Nigerian agricultural research institutes to improve palm oil production through the formulation of fertilizers that are tailor-made for the crop.
Veronica Obatolu, executive director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), disclosed at a workshop and meeting on the OCP-funded fertilizer project that through the partnership, they are conducting soil mapping and an evaluation of soil facilities that will enable them produce fertilizers appropriate for growing oil palms.
OCP Africa works hand-in-hand with the national agricultural research systems of many different African governments, non-profits and private enterprises to devise scientific and technological solutions.
The organization is committed to offering the right fertilizer products at the right time, in the right place and at the right price in order to enable actors in agriculture to deal with challenges related to soil fertility.
According to Obatolu, the partnership between OCP Africa, the IAR&T of Ibadan and the National Institute for Oil Palm Research seeks to increase palm oil production in the South West, South East and South South states, which are known for cultivating the product.
Donald Madukwe, senior agronomist at OCP Africa, explained that the fertilizer company is concerned for farmers’ livelihoods, noting that OCP Africa is driven to improve productivity through research and that they are partnering with relevant agencies to achieve their goal.
In his remarks, the project’s director, Vincent Aduramigba, noted that the ultimate objective of the endeavor is to develop crop-specific fertilizers.
“For the first time, we are developing crop specific fertilisers. We are developing fertiliser meant for oil palm. So, from next year, our farmers will be having bumper harvests,” Aduramigba said.
