Poor soil fertility is regarded as a major cause of the persistent food insecurity in Africa. This problem is linked to poor fertiliser usage on the continent as African farmers are ranked among the lowest users of fertilisers in the world. Nigerian farmers, for instance, have a fertiliser utilization rate of 8kg/ha compared to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommendation of 200kg/ha. A major reason for low fertiliser consumption is the scarcity of fertiliser on the continent.
According to the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), economic development in Africa must be based on increased and sustainable agricultural production. To realise this vision, Africa Heads of States and Governments implemented the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP). Further to this, the CAADP set a target of 6% annual growth in Agricultural production to meet the UN Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of significantly reducing poverty and hunger in the continent by 2015.
In June 2006, African Heads of States and other stakeholders met at the Africa Fertiliser Summit in Abuja, Nigeria to deliberate on ideas that will boost fertiliser consumption on the continent and trigger a Green Revolution in Africa. A major outcome of the summit was the resolution by the African Union member states to increase the rate of fertiliser use/consumption on the continent to an average of 50kg/ha by 2015.
Notore Chemical Industries fertiliser plant is currently the only urea fertiliser plant in Sub-Saharan Africa. The plant will produce 600,000MT/annum of Urea, 550,000MT/annum of NPK and 400,000 MT/annum of Ammonia in its first year of operations. Accordingly, our 5 year strategic plan includes the development of 2 additional trains of fertiliser production facilities bringing our total production capacity to 6,500MT/day. With the presence of these resources, Notore is perfectly positioned to become the major supplier of fertiliser in Africa.
Notore fertiliser will be made readily available to farmers, helping to reduce hunger and guarantee food security in Africa. In essence, Notore is bringing hope to millions of people across the continent. Notore is championing the African Green Revolution.