OCP Africa has called for a deep transformation of agricultural value chains across Africa in order to strengthen food sovereignty and improve the competitiveness of local agricultural production.
Speaking during a panel held on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum 2026, OCP Africa CEO Hajar Alafifi stressed that such transformation should rely on an integrated approach combining soil science, innovation, agricultural mechanization and broader access to international markets.
She noted that Africa holds nearly 60% of the world’s arable land while still importing around $100 billion worth of food products every year, highlighting the continent’s strong potential to become a net agricultural exporter.
According to Alafifi, OCP Africa’s strategy now extends far beyond fertilizer supply to cover the entire agricultural production chain, from soil analysis to market access for farmers.
She explained that the company conducts extensive agronomic research to develop solutions tailored to African soils and crops, adding that nearly one-third of OCP Africa’s workforce consists of agronomists.
As an example, Alafifi pointed to a program implemented in Côte d’Ivoire that helped increase maize yields from 2 to 8 tons per hectare through adapted inputs, soil analysis and targeted agronomic practices.
She also highlighted farmer support programs deployed by OCP Africa, stating that nearly 4.5 million farmers have benefited from the group’s initiatives across the continent.
Alafifi further emphasized the importance of improving market access for African farmers. In Nigeria, OCP Africa and its partners have connected nearly 750,000 farmers with buyers to help secure commercial outlets for their production.
The OCP Africa CEO also called for better-structured agricultural value chains and regulations that support intra-African trade and high value-added agricultural exports.
Held under the theme “Scale or Fail: Why African Capitalism Must Unite,” Africa CEO Forum 2026 brought together business leaders, investors and policymakers in Kigali to discuss competitiveness and economic integration across the continent.
