Murindi, May 18 th , 2023 – In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture , RAB (Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board) and in coordination with USAID and CNFA , the R wanda F ertilizer C ompany , (a Joint Venture of OCP Africa, Agaciro, and APTC) launches the OCP School
Lab project in Rwanda . This i nnovative collaboration with specialized partners , aims at offering interactive training on good agricultural practices, adapted to specific crops in the beneficiary regions.
On May 18 th 20 23 , lead farmers from several districts attended the official lau n ching in Murindi o f OCP SCHOOL LAB to experience high technology for fertilizer recommendations based on soil, yield target and crop nutrition. They have actively interacted with experts and benefited from knowledge that will make their farming experience improve.
RFC launches the project among farmers in 14 districts , namel y Musanze, Burera, Gicumbi, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Nyamagabe & Nyaruguru for Irish Potato farmers and Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kirehe, Kayonza, Bugesera, Nyanza & Gisagara for Maize farmers. Thanks to its partner HORECO , RFC provides farmers with one - on - one advice on interventions and crop nutrition recommendations for irish potato and maize to improve their farming practices and enhance yields and livelihoods.
OCP School Lab in Rwanda
OCP School Lab campaign in Rwanda will run through 14 0 villages to reach 3 0 . 000 farmers who will be benefiting from a training on good agricultural practices during 12 months . This project will also provide fertilizer recommendations to 5 . 000 farmers by using dry chemistry by spectro metry , an easy - to - use, innovative technology that can provide nutrient recommendations for individual farmers' field s .
OCP School Lab in Africa
Since 2016, more than 77 0 . 000 farmers in 9 African countries have benefited from OCP School Labs, namely in Nigeria , Togo, Ghana, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Senegal & Tanzania.
The program is now a powerful tool designed to develop African agriculture as a whole and help farmers to improve their productivity by offering them a wide range of services from demonstrations and inte ractive training sessions on good agricultural practices to agronomy
advice and fertilizer recommendation.
About RFC
Created in 2018, Rwanda Fertilizer Company LTD (RFC) is a joint venture company that involves OCP AFRICA – a Moroccan fertilizer manufacturing firm – and the Government of Rwanda through the AGACIRO Development Fund and the Agro Processing Industry LTD
(APTC LTD).
RFC has 3 main objectives:
1. Agriculture development
o Introduce our products and improve fertility and productivity of soi ls through the provision of the right fertilizers.
o Contribute to the sustainable development of Agriculture in Rwanda and neighboring countries.
2. Blending project
o Develop local blending facilities with the objective of decreasing imported volumes and fulfil l market potential of blended formulas.
3. Commercial activities
o Guarantee competitive fertilizers for Rwanda and neighboring countries.
o Grow market demand in Rwanda and drive consumption of blended formulas amongst farmers communities
About OCP AFRICA:
OCP Africa was created in 2016 to work hand - in - hand with farmers to contribute to unlocking Africa's vast agricultural potential. We produce fertilizer solutions customized to local conditions and crop needs, and we work with partners in many different Afr ican governments, non profits and private enterprises to connect farmers to the agricultural services, knowledge and resources they need in order to prosper. With a presence across the continent, we understand the diversity and complex needs of Africa's so ils, and we are committed to offering the right fertilizer products at the right time, in the right place, at the right price.
Based in Morocco, OCP Africa is a subsidiary of OCP Group – a leading global provider of phosphate and its derivatives with mo re than 100 years of experience.
For more information, please visit : www.ocpafrica.com
About CNFA
Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) is a non - profit corporation dedicated to increasing rural incomes by empowering farmers and rural entrepreneurs. CNFA has a successful track record of implementing agricultural development programs in 43 coun tries since its founding in 1985. In Rwanda, CNFA is a recipient of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) award of $28 million to implement the Hinga Wunguke Activity, which started on January 16, 2023 .
Under this agreement, CNFA is aiming to sustainably increase smallholder farmers' income, improve the nutritional status of Rwandan women and children, and increase the resilience of the agriculture and food systems to the changing climate. Hinga Wunguke will achieve results
by work ing with and through new and existing Government of Rwanda (GoR) systems and programs, combining capacity building with market systems advisory, in - kind matching grants, and other services to improve agricultural infrastructure, facilitate linkages between value
chain actors, and promote the production, processing, and consumption of nutrient - rich crops. Hinga Wunguke is implemented in 13 districts including Bugesera, Ngoma, Kayonza, Gatsibo, Gakenke, Burera, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Ngororero, Karongi, Ny amasheke and Nyamagabe.
Contact:
RFC : CNFA :
Anass KHANCHOUFI Daniel Gies
Country Manager Chief of Party
Rwanda Fertilizer Company Ltd Hinga Wunguke
KN 67 St Plot no 6, BPR Building KV 28 AV, House 7
Kigali, Rwanda. Kigali, Rwanda
Cell : +250 799 373 114 Tel : 25078 2636696
Email : a.khanchoufi@ocpafrica.com Email: dgies@cnfa.org
