OCP Africa CEO Hajar Alafifi called Thursday in Kigali for a profound transformation of African agricultural value chains through an integrated approach based on soil science, innovation, mechanization, and improved access to international markets.
Speaking during a panel held on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum 2026, Alafifi stressed that Africa has major assets to become a net agricultural exporter.
“The continent hosts nearly 60% of the world’s arable land, while it continues to import around $100 billion worth of food annually,” she noted, adding that OCP Africa’s approach goes beyond fertilizer supply to encompass the entire agricultural production chain, from soil analysis to market connectivity.
She further explained that the company carries out extensive agronomic analysis to provide solutions tailored to the specificities of African soils and crops, adding that one-third of OCP Africa’s teams are made up of agronomists.
As an example, she cited a program conducted in Côte d’Ivoire that significantly improved maize yields from two to eight tons per hectare through the use of adapted inputs, soil analysis, and appropriate agronomic techniques.
Alafifi also said OCP Africa directly supports farmers through several assistance programs, noting that nearly 4.5 million farmers have benefited from these initiatives.
She further underscored the importance of connecting African farmers to markets, indicating that in Nigeria, OCP Africa and its partners helped link around 750,000 farmers with buyers to secure commercial outlets.
