Ghana and OCP Group sign MoU to develop Ghanaian fertilizer value chain

MoFA and the OCP Group (the world's first producer of phosphate-based fertilizers) will work together to optimise the fertilizer value chain in Ghana to provide customised fertilizers at affordable prices to farmers. In line with GFEP, the fertilizer value chain will be improved at the farmer level, with targeted farmer-centric and agronomic initiatives, providing appropriate inputs to farmers and supporting them with adequate training, soil mapping, field trials and fertilizer formula development.

In addition, MoFA and the OCP Group are exploring opportunities to develop the fertilizer production sector of Ghana. In particular, the parties will explore the feasibility of setting up a fertilizer production plant that could combine natural gas from Ghana and phosphate from Morocco to produce customised high quality and affordable fertilizers. The fertilizer value chain development will further include the introduction of fertilizer blending to allow the production of customised mineral fertilizers that will meet soil- and crop-specific nutrient requirements.

The signed MoU is the starting point, with the aim to assess collaboration opportunities between MoFA and the OCP Group – as well as with other public and private stakeholders. MoFA and the OCP Group have initiated preliminary studies to assess the feasibility of implementing the above-mentioned opportunities. If successful, these initiatives are expected to create jobs, reduce the price of fertilizer, and significantly increase fertilizer consumption by farmers in Ghana, which currently averages at 12kg per hectare. This is far below the Abuja target of 50 kg per hectare – a 2006 declaration by members of the African Union to increase fertilizer use to 50 kg per hectare by 2015 – and considered among the lowest in the world.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldfertilizer.com/phosphates/19092018/ghana-and-ocp-group-sign-mou-to-develop-ghanaian-fertilizer-value-chain/