Browsing: Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism

Africa fertilizer
  • African nations commit to creating a soil health fund to support research, innovation, and capacity building on fertiliser usage.
  • AfDB agrees to mobilise financing to ease fertilizer availability, de-risk farmer investments, and support policy reforms across the continent.
  • In Nairobi, governments commit to formulating policies that will serve to create a conducive environment for fertilizer and soil health interventions.

Africa fertilizer supply is a multi-billion dollar industry that at the moment, is tapped by Western countries, particularly and ironically, Russia and Ukraine. Just as hard lessons were learnt in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so was the need to invest in fertilizer production and distribution brought to light in the wake of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The war led to a severe shortage of fertilizers in Africa and now, in an effort to mitigate the challenge African Heads of State have committed to support the full operationalization of the …

 

  • USAID commits $4 million to fertilizer use project in Africa
  • OCP Group commits another $3 million to the Rock Phosphate Amendment Project
  • African Leaders sign 10-year Action Plan to revive soils through fertilizer application

Africa’s Food Security

Africa’s food security relies on fertilizer access as the answer; the population is exploding, and climate change among other factors affecting food production, will more fertilizer solve this life-threatening puzzle?

The USAID seems to think so, more fertilizer, better-improved fertilizer, more affordable (questionable), all in all, the USAID is proposing fertilizer as a key solution to Africa’s food security.

“In a landmark move for African agricultural advancement, USAID and OCP Group, the world leader in plant nutrition solutions and phosphate-based fertilizers, have partnered to tackle critical barriers hindering Africa’s agricultural potential,” announces a recent press release from USAID.

The announcement comes on the heels of a visit by USAID Administrator Ms. Samantha …

  • Africa Fertiliser Financing Mechanism will avail 8000 tons of fertiliser.
  • 5.533 million Kenyan farmers are registered for the government’s subsidised fertiliser programme.
  • African Development Bank granted Kenya $67 million in 2022-2023 through its African Emergency Food Production Facility.

The Africa Fertiliser Financing Mechanism has launched a project to help deliver 8,000 tons of fertilisers to 100,000 smallholder farmers in Kenya to boost harvests and incomes.

Through its Fertiliser Financing for Sustainable Agriculture Management Project, the Mechanism will provide a $2 million partial trade credit guarantee and a grant of $219,000 to Apollo Agriculture Limited, a Kenyan corporation, to facilitate the company’s fertiliser sales.

The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, through a contribution of $10.15 million to the Africa Fertiliser Financing Mechanism, is also supporting the project.

Representatives of the African Development Bank, which manages the Mechanism, Apollo Agriculture and the Kenyan and Norwegian governments attended the launch event in Nairobi.…

  • The Project will increase food production, income, and job creation for Kenyan smallholder farmers.
  • Between 2024 and 2026, the project will support Apollo Agriculture Limited’s efforts to distribute fertilizers efficiently.
  • The distribution strategy encompasses leveraging a portion of the company’s network, spanning 150 retail agro-dealers and 800 village-based agents, all under a digital platform.

The Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism has taken a significant stride in bolstering agricultural sustainability and productivity in Kenya by extending financial support to Apollo Agriculture Limited. This strategic move involves a $2 million partial trade credit guarantee and a $219,000 grant funding, aiming to facilitate the distribution of over 7,000 tonnes of fertilizers to approximately 100,000 smallholder farmers across the country.

The financial assistance provided by the mechanism reflects a commitment to addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in accessing fertilizers, particularly those hindered by the lack of tangible collateral.

Target beneficiaries under Africa Fertilizer