The OCP School Lab program, aimed at improving agricultural practices, has been launched in five Kenyan counties, OCP Africa, a subsidiary of the OCP Group dedicated to the African continent, announced on Friday.
Deployed for a duration of two months in the counties of Homa Bay, Nandi, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Siaya, the initiative aims to develop farmers’ skills in soil analysis to help them increase their yields and incomes.
In the first phase, the program plans to conduct 7,800 soil analyses, map over 15,000 agricultural hectares, and train 45,000 farmers in good agricultural practices and soil health management, OCP Africa stated on X.
Implemented in collaboration with local partners, the OCP School Lab program raises farmers’ awareness of the importance of soil analysis.
These are “laboratories” in the form of caravans that go directly to farmers, help them analyze their soils, and provide recommendations regarding the fertilizer mixtures to use for their soils and crops.
According to OCP Africa, the School Lab has already assisted over 350,000 farmers in Kenya, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Tanzania, and Côte d’Ivoire.