Yara begins shipment of fertilizer to East Africa

Yara has committed 40 000 t of fertilizer, agronomic expertise and digital enablement to smallholder farmers in a public-private partnership supported by the UN World Food Program, the Norwegian government and African institutions.

Heading for Kenya and Tanzania, the first 20 000 t of YaraMila onboard the cargo ship Bonette left the plant during the early morning hours on 28 June.

“I am proud that Yara can contribute to increasing food security in vulnerable communities. The Action Africa initiative has many milestones to come and I am convinced that we have only seen the beginning. The total impact of this will go far beyond what we first envisioned,” said Pablo Barrera Lopez, Executive Vice President Strategy & Communications.

Aiming to reach smallholders in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, the fertilizer and agronomic support will help farmers produce food for one million people for one year.

Last week, the Norwegian minister of International Development, Dag Inge Ulstein, visited the Porsgrunn plant to oversee the preparations before the vessel’s departure. He also met with Yara’s CEO Svein Tore Holsether and the employees involved in preparing the shipment.

“If we are to reach the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the people who need our help the most, we need even more public-private partnerships. This initiative taken by Yara is very important and will go a long way,” said Ulstein.

Image courtesy of Yara

Read the article online at: https://www.worldfertilizer.com/nitrogen/03072020/yara-begins-shipment-of-fertilizer-to-east-africa/