Fertilizer Canada in October announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tractors for Africa to advance sustainable agriculture in Ghana. The project is supported by Global Affairs Canada and focuses on the incorporation of 4R Nutrient Stewardship into fertilizer management practices in order to increase incomes for up to 80,000 smallholder farmers, particularly women.
“Fertilizer Canada is pleased to be partnering with Tractors for Africa to advance sustainable and resilient agriculture creating new opportunities for smallholder farmers,” said Clyde Graham, Executive Vice President of Fertilizer Canada. “Mechanization is an important tool for agricultural crop production. Farmers who have access to improved tools and technologies have the opportunity to shift from subsistence farming to market-oriented farming. Farm equipment also improve the precision of fertilizer application.”
Fertilizer Canada and Tractors for Africa said the MOU reflects both organizations’ commitment to improve food security, promote climate-smart agriculture, and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The 4R Solution Project is a partnership between Fertilizer Canada, the Cooperative Development Foundation of Canada, and International Plant Nutrition Institute Canada.
“Tractors for Africa is excited to partner with Fertilizer Canada to enable the goal of raising living standards for African farm families,” said Louis Ricard, Co- Founder and Treasurer of Tractors for Africa. “Our core mission is to deliver mechanized solutions and provide training to farming cooperatives on equipment, business systems, and soil management. Incorporating Fertilizer Canada’s 4R Solution Project in the yearly training will show farmers how to use these critical inputs in an economic and sustainable way, contributing to higher yields and a pattern of sustainable agriculture into the future.”