By Amos Sikaonga 
By Cecilia Chiluba
Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has partnered with OCP Africa, the world’s largest phosphate-fertilizer producer, to accelerate Zambia’s agricultural transformation and industrialization.
The partnership is anchored on five pillars which are fertilizer-blending, Green-ammonia production with zero-carbon feed-stock, security on raw-material supply, long-term phosphate inputs direct from OCP, Large-scale demonstration farms and capacity building involving staff exchanges.
Under this agreement, comprehensive soil surveys will be conducted in all provinces to create a detailed fertility map of the country’s soils, giving the country scientific insight into the nutrient composition and deficiencies in each region.
Officiating at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Lusaka, Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo noted that farmers have been experiencing challenges in accessing affordable fertilizer and other inputs due to Zambia’s over reliance on imported fertilizer.
Mr. Mtolo observed that the heavy reliance on imported fertilizers to meet growing demand, has strained the country’s foreign exchange (FOREX), making it vulnerable to global supply disruptions.
“We have seen how the importation of fertilizers and other inputs contributes to currency pressures in this context, today’s partnership with OCP Africa is timely and visionary, as it addresses these challenges head-on and aligns with Zambia’s strategic objectives of self-sufficiency and sustainable growth,” Mr. Mtolo noted.
Mr. Mtolo said the partnership between IDC and OCP Africa therefore lays the foundation for a comprehensive collaboration in the fertilizer value chain, as encompasses several transformative initiatives which are critical for the success of the country’s agricultural sector and industrial base.
And IDC Chief Executive Officer Cornwell Muleya said through this partnership, Zambia joins a continental network of transformational projects.
Mr. Muleya revealed that the new blending plant at Nitorgen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) in Kafue which is the first major investment since 1980s, will be commissioned in next 2 months.
“The expected impact for Zambia includes 1 000 direct jobs, many thousands indirect across logistics, services, manufacturing, near selfsufficiency in fertilizer, and reduced import bill of hundreds of millions of dollars,” Mr. Muleya stated.
He said the project will see multimilliondollar investments into plant, infrastructure which will uplift Kafue town, as well as stronger food security, higher yields, rural incomes, and GDP growth.
Speaking at the same event, OCP Africa Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Hettiti, explained that the initiative focuses on three core pillars that are vital for long-term agricultural success.
Mr. Hettiti said the three focus areas include Farmer Capacity Building, Soil Mapping and Fertilizer Customization and GIS-Based Agricultural Platform.
“The agreement outlines a strategic collaboration framework, addressing key development areas across the agricultural value chain and leveraging Zambia’s potential to become a regional model for innovation-led farming.”
“This MoU marks a significant milestone in our journey to empower Zambian farmers with the right tools, knowledge, and technologies to thrive.” We are proud to work alongside the Ministry of Agriculture to co-develop impactful and customized solutions that will benefit farmers and drive inclusive growth,” Mr. Hettiti said.
Cecilia Chiluba 
News Desk