MOFI is committed to supporting PFI-NPK Limited through its management company.

The Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) is set to take over the management of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI-NPK) Limited, as the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) prepares to exit its co-management role by November.

The handover is part of a transition strategy aimed at ensuring continuity and greater efficiency in Nigeria’s fertiliser value chain.

A stakeholders' meeting held in Abuja brought together Armstrong Takang, MOFI CEO, and Aminu Umar-Sadiq, NSIA CEO, alongside officials from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, FEPSAN (Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria), and other private sector players. The gathering focused on how to maintain momentum and build on the initiative's successes.

Takang highlighted the progress the PFI has made in transforming Nigeria’s fertiliser ecosystem. “Over the years, the PFI-NPK programme has played a role in transforming Nigeria's fertiliser ecosystem, from expanding domestic blending capacity to enhancing farmers' access to quality fertilisers and advancing national food security objectives.”

He stressed the importance of continuous stakeholder collaboration, added, “The 2025 PFI-NPK Stakeholders' Roundtable, themed: 'PFI: A journey of Reform, Partnership and Transition', was carefully chosen to appreciate stakeholders for their long-standing commitment to the PFI, and to also serve as a reminder to all parties that the journey ahead requires even greater effort if more remarkable successes are to be recorded.”

Takang also addressed concerns over fertiliser adulteration and raw material diversion. He said, “We will put in a place a traceability mechanism through which we will be able to trace the raw materials that are imported to the point of production of the fertilisers and we will follow the fertilisers from the plants to the farmers who are the end-users.”

He called on fertiliser blenders to take part in self-regulation, added, “Adulteration affects their businesses, so they have a responsibility to self-regulate and see to it that no one is allowed to do anything that compromises the quality of fertilisers.”

MOFI is committed to supporting PFI-NPK Limited through its management company, ensuring continued growth and sustainability.

Aminu Umar-Sadiq, NSIA CEO, noted the PFI’s achievements since its 2016 launch, especially the increase in fertiliser blending plants from four to 92 nationwide. He said,“The PFI is a model of what collaboration between public institutions, and the private sector can achieve. We remain committed to strategic partnerships that enhance positive socio-economic outcomes for Nigerians.”

Originally established to stimulate local fertiliser production, ensure affordability for farmers, and boost food security, the PFI is now entering a new phase aimed at deeper reform and expansion under MOFI’s full leadership.

Africa Rice operates an 800-hectare research campus.

In Ivory Coast, Salmata Ouattara looks back at 2023 as the year everything changed for her rice farm.

Like many others in M’Be, near the city of Bouaké, she had struggled for years with unpredictable rainfall and sudden flooding that ruined her crops. While some farmers gave up, she kept going, supporting three children and other relatives from her farm’s earnings.

Then, a fellow farmer introduced her to Smart Valleys—a low-cost initiative by the non-profit Africa Rice. The concept helps farmers manage water more effectively through simple infrastructure like channels, reducing the risk of flooding and increasing productivity. It also supports crop diversification.

“Before, I made 2 tonnes a year [and] earned at least 400,000CFA [£528.60],” said Ouattara. “But as soon as we put Smart Valleys into practice, I made 4.5 tonnes, which makes me 900,000CFA (£1,189.34).”

The Smart Valleys project is largely supported by Japan’s agriculture ministry and focuses on cultivating inland valleys—low-lying fertile land between hills, mostly underused due to water control challenges. These valleys span 190 million hectares across sub-Saharan Africa, but only 10% are currently farmed.

“In the past, farmers were trying to produce rice only once a year and failing,” said Elliott Dossou-Yovo, who heads the project. Now, those same lands support alternative crops during the dry season, helping to improve income and food diversity.

Africa Rice, originally established in 1971, changed its name from the West Africa Rice Development Association in 2009, setting a goal to double rice production within a decade. Having achieved that, the focus is now on achieving rice self-sufficiency for member countries by 2030.

Just outside Ouattara’s farm, Africa Rice operates an 800-hectare research campus. It houses seed science labs, testing facilities, and a gene bank with over 22,000 rice varieties. Funded by organisations like the World Bank, the Gates Foundation, and various development banks, it works closely with scientists across the continent.

“Rice is very popular because it is easy to cook,” said Baboucarr Manneh, Africa Rice’s director general. “It used to seem like a luxury food to many consumers, compared with maize and millet.”

Cameroonian scientist Sali Atanja Ndindeng leads efforts to develop healthier rice types and promote nutrient-rich products like parboiled rice, rice crackers with local ingredients, and instant rice flour for children.

Despite progress, challenges remain. Only 20% of Africa’s rice fields are irrigated, with most dependent on inconsistent rainfall. Africa still imports about 40% of the rice it consumes—over half from India. In 2023, India’s export ban caused alarm across the continent.

Still, success stories like Ouattara’s show what science and innovation can achieve. “They welcomed me … They guided me and I thank them,” she said.

Cereal farmers across Tanzania are set to benefit from new agricultural technologies.

Cereal farmers across Tanzania are set to benefit from new agricultural technologies that promise higher yields, improved soil fertility, and lower production costs.

The innovations, introduced by Tanzanian firms Mzuri Afrika Co. Ltd and Agrami Afrika, are designed to transform farming practices and unlock the potential of small- and large-scale farmers alike.

Speaking to journalists, Shaban Mgonja, Managing Director of Mzuri Afrika, highlighted the positive impact these technologies are already having on the country’s agriculture sector.

“We have introduced two groundbreaking technologies that have the potential to revolutionize agriculture in Tanzania, should farmers adopt them,” Mgonja said.

The key technologies include the Mzuri Pro-Til machine and Agrami liquid fertilizers. The Mzuri Pro-Til machine enables farmers to till the soil, apply fertiliser, and plant seeds in a single pass—saving time, labour, and fuel. It is especially useful on stubble fields and promotes conservation agriculture by preserving soil structure and moisture.

So far, over 1,700 farmers from regions such as Mbeya, Arusha, Manyara, Songea, and Morogoro have been trained to use the machine. The technology has also been introduced to the Tanzania National Service (TNS) and Magereza (prison service). In collaboration with Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Mzuri Afrika is pushing for widespread adoption of this solution.

To promote the technology and educate farmers, the company has established a 300-acre demonstration farm in the Vigwaza area of Chalinze District. Mgonja said, “The demonstration farm will serve as a learning hub, attracting farmers from Tanzania and across Africa, particularly those in the cereal farming sector. This training is free of charge to encourage more farmers to adopt modern technologies that improve soil health, enhance crop quality, and increase yields.”

Currently, 200 acres of the farm have been planted with sesame, with expected yields of 600 kg per acre this season. The Mzuri Pro-Til machine works by cultivating narrow soil strips, placing fertilisers at the correct depth, and sowing seeds at optimal levels—ensuring ideal conditions for germination and growth.

Agrami Afrika, the fertiliser arm of the partnership, has already registered 11 fertilisers in Tanzania, nine of which are currently on the market. The company works alongside Green World, a Poland-based firm, to deliver modern farming solutions.

Marek Różniak, founder of Mzuri Word and creator of the Pro-Til machine, added, “I am in Tanzania to introduce new machines that address today’s farming challenges, such as rejuvenating soil structure, reducing crop establishment costs, and increasing yields.”

He stressed the importance of education and training, noting the machine is already in use in over 50 countries, including Poland and Ukraine.

“The evolution of agriculture takes time, but Tanzania has the potential to produce barley, wheat, and other cereals,” Różniak said. “By teaching farmers to use new technologies, we can improve their livelihoods and contribute to global food security.”

AfDB's investments drive sustainable farming, improve productivity, and strengthen food security in Africa

The World Bank Group has joined the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa as a co-chair, supporting the initiative’s mission to deliver digital access to essential services for 100 million individuals and businesses across Africa by 2034

The Bank will serve alongside current co-chairs and founding members — the African Development Bank Group and Mastercard — combining efforts to expand the reach of critical digital solutions across the continent.

The MADE Alliance is prioritising opportunities in agriculture, recognising the sector’s potential for digital technologies to accelerate development. World Bank-supported “Digital Agriculture Roadmaps” will unite stakeholders in crafting tailored action plans for specific countries, enabling the alliance to reach more farmers with impactful solutions.

“The World Bank Group is deeply committed to expanding inclusive digital access across Africa and connecting farmers to the digital tools they need to reach markets, access finance, and grow their businesses. Joining the MADE Alliance will help accelerate both of these goals, driving economic growth and improving livelihoods across the continent,” said Sangbu Kim, vice-president for Digital at the World Bank. “By bringing together our digital and agriculture expertise, global knowledge, and local experience, we can help scale lasting, transformational impact.”

The World Bank Group formally joined the MADE Alliance in late April during the alliance’s Steering Committee meeting, held alongside the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. 

“Two of the African Development Bank Group’s priority areas are to Feed Africa and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. The MADE Alliance: Africa brings us closer to achieving those goals by connecting the continent’s smallholder farmers to digital services that lead to greater food production, greater access to markets, financing and farming practices, as well as to increased incomes,” said Dr Beth Dunford, vice-president for Agriculture, Human and Social Development at the African Development Bank, which has committed US$300mn to the alliance’s first five years of programming. “The World Bank’s demonstrated expertise in the digital connectivity and agriculture sectors enables the MADE Alliance: Africa to reach more farmers eager to be part of Africa’s agricultural transformation.”

“The MADE Alliance brings complementary partners together to execute and implement programs that target the same regions and communities, allowing us to amplify our impact,” said Tara Nathan, founder and executive vice-president of community pass, Mastercard. “The World Bank brings enormous expertise in digital transformation and agriculture, and we are honored they have joined the alliance to deploy resources more efficiently and accelerate our work to help bring everyone into the digital economy.”