Russia's Uralchem Group, a leading global producer of mineral fertilizers, has commenced the unloading of a substantial humanitarian cargo, comprising 34,000 tonnes of potash, at Nigeria’s port of Onne, the company announced on Wednesday.
Dmitry Konyaev, CEO of Uralchem JSC, emphasized the Group's profound commitment to alleviating food insecurity.
"We are pleased to witness our humanitarian shipment reach Nigerian shores and look forward to seeing the local farmers use the fertiliser in the most efficient way to reap a fruitful harvest," the CEO said in a statement.
Since late 2022, Uralchem Group has steadfastly donated over 134,000 tonnes of fertilizers to African nations, without charge, in a concerted response to the unprecedented global food crisis. Notably, more than 111,000 tonnes of the Group's humanitarian shipments have been facilitated in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
It is through these partnerships that vessels chartered by WFP have efficiently transported the consignments from European ports and warehouses to various African nations, including Malawi, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and now Nigeria.
"We believe that access to food is one of the basic human rights that can and has to be secured by collective action on all levels. As one of the world’s major producers of mineral fertilisers, the use of which significantly increases food supply, we do what we can to prevent crop losses in countries struggling with food insecurity," Konyaev said.
The pivotal initiative undertaken by Uralchem Group reinforces its dedication to donating approximately 300,000 tonnes of mineral fertilizers to developing nations.
This philanthropic endeavor not only serves to mitigate the challenges posed by the global food crisis but also aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal #2 — "End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture", the company noted.