Tanzanian farmers remain heavily dependent on imported fertiliser. To reduce this dependence on the international market, the Tanzanian authorities are looking to the Moroccan authorities to set up a fertiliser blending plant in Kisarawe.
Talks began in the first week of February between the two governments. The aim is to set up, with the support of the Moroccan phosphate group OCP, a fertiliser blending plant on a site based in Kisarawe, one of the 6 districts of the Pwani region in Tanzania.
Thus, the Moroccan group OCP is the leading exporter of raw phosphate, phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers in the world. While the state-owned Tanzania Fertilizer Company (TFC), the country’s main fertiliser distributor, is currently facing a major financial and commercial crisis. The Tanzanian government, which aims to safeguard the state-owned Tanzania Fertilizer Company (TFC), out of business for eight years, has granted it financial support of 6 billion shillings (about 26 million dirhams) to maintain a steady supply of fertiliser at subsidised prices. However, to ensure its long-term sustainability, the state-owned company needs a capital injection of 45 billion shillings ($361 million), the authorities say.
Against the backdrop of a fertiliser shortage caused by the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has led to a rise in fertiliser and food prices around the world, TFC board chair Florence Turuka said, “We have to make sure that we have the right people in the right place.As a country, we are forced to import at a high price. To solve this problem, we have no choice but to start producing fertiliser locally.
The decision was made by a delegation from both countries at the Dakar 2 Summit on food sovereignty in Senegal. It is part of a strategy to ensure an adequate supply of fertiliser at affordable prices to Tanzanian farmers.
While Tanzania relies on imports for 90% of its fertiliser needs, which are estimated at 430,000 tonnes per year, the installation of a new plant should help strengthen the production capacity of the local industry.
It should be noted that this project is in line with the objectives of the OCP Group, which is committed to supplying 4 million tonnes of fertiliser in 2023 as part of its Africa supply program.
