Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal has reiterated that the state is ready to support investments capable of developing the economic well-being of the people and lift them from poverty.
Tambuwal, said this at the groundbreaking ceremony of OCP Africa’s $13 million Sokoto Agricultural Centre of Excellence comprising a fertilizer blending plant with a production capacity of 200,000 MT per annum and training facilities for farmers, fertilizer blenders and other stake holders in the agricultural value chain
He said Sokoto State has one of the largest deposits of high-quality phosphate in Nigeria, which makes the establishment of the plant there a big step towards making fertilizer readily available and affordable to all farmers in the state and the Northern region.
OCP Africa, a subsidiary of the world’s leader in the phosphate industry and OCP Group, said the blending plant, which becomes operational in July 2021, has the capability to blend NPK with micronutrients. This project will contribute significantly towards the achievement of the food security goals of the country.
Previously, “farmers are known to apply any available fertilizer to all plants but with the proliferation of modern blending plants in the country, specific fertilizer based on soil and plant needs can be made available,” he stated
The Deputy Managing Director of OCP Africa Fertilizers Nigeria Ltd, Caleb Usoh, said facilities that would be at the blending plant include the modern NPK fertilizer blending equipment, process building/warehouse, administrative building, trailer park, other ancillary facilities and a One Stop Shop for farmers to access training and all farm inputs
Usoh, said the Sokoto Agricultural Centre of Excellence, which will be developed on 10 hectares of land made available by the state government at Kalambaina industrial layout in Wamakko local government area of the state, would provide direct jobs for 75 persons and also serve as a center of training for fertilizer manufacturers, farmers, and other members of the agricultural value chain.
He explained that citing the plant in Sokoto goes a long way in strengthening and expanding the relationship between the company and the government and people of Sokoto, saying other initiatives done in the state included the setting up of five one-stop shops in Wurno, Goronyo, Tambuwal, IIIelah and Kware to enhance accessibility of inputs to farmers across the State.
Other interventions of OCP in Sokoto State included its COVID-19 Palliative Project where 8,453 farmers gained access to training and subsidised fertilizers at N4,500/50kg bag, the deployment of OCP School Lab Project; an innovative program aimed at increasing the yields and income of smallholder farmers through Mobile soil testing and effective agronomical trainings. The company had also, empowered 13 Agripromoters with Motorbike/Tricycles and Electronic tablets to provide extension services across the state.
