OCP Africa launches Agribooster initiative in Nasia

OCP Africa, a subsidiary of the OCP Group—a leading global producer of phosphate and its derivatives, with almost 100 years of experience, has re-launched its ‘Agribooster Offer” at Nasia in the North East Region.

The relaunch is aimed at contributing to boost the food production in the country and to empower smallholder farmers.

The ‘Agribooster Offer’ is an innovative farmer-centred market development model that brings together different stakeholders of the agriculture value chain to provide the best conditions allowing farmers to increase their yields, incomes and livelihood.

Support for farmers

The 2019 edition of the offer will be implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in the Upper West, Upper East, Northeast, North, Bono East and Bono regions, aimed at reaching 70,000 small-holder farmers cultivating maize, rice and soya beans.

Speaking at the re-launch, the Country Manager of OCP Africa, Ghana, Mr Samuel Oduro-Asare, said, “OCP Africa introduced this ‘Agribooster Offer’ to support farmers to have access to training of good agricultural practices, finance, markets and high quality inputs. This combined offer will enable the farmers to move beyond subsistence farming.

“The projected outcome for the 2019 project is to increase farm yield from 20 per cent to 40 per cent of the 70,000 farmers reached.

“The project is expected to include 30-40 per cent of women as well as 20-30 per cent of young farmers,” Mr Oduro-Asare said.

Alignment

The Director of Crops at the ministry, Mr Seth Osei-Akoto, said he was excited that the OCP Africa programme was aligned with the government’s flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs Programme (PFJ), to empower farmers with knowledge and skills to maximise the benefits of the usage of the subsidised planting materials and other inputs.

He said like the Agribooster Offer, the PFJ would also improve the marketability of the increased production of food crops by establishing strong linkage between producers, private aggregators, public food programmes as well as private food and feed enterprises.

Mr Osei-Akoto thanked OCP Africa for the unique initiative and encouraged all farmers to embrace the offer and enhance their knowledge and skills to increase their yield, revenue and improve their well-being.