Kigali, April 30, 2019: Today, the Government of Rwanda, in partnership with Morocco’s OCP group, one of the leading exporters of phosphate fertilizers in the world, officiated the launch of the Caravan, a mobile soil-testing laboratory project meant to enhance soil fertility management and crops fertilization.

The ceremony, held at Mulindi agrishow ground in Kigali, was officiated by Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, who was accompanied by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Rwanda, HE Youssef IMANI. It was also attended by some members of parliament, some Heads of Diplomatic Missions accredited to Rwanda and farmers, among others.

The Caravan, a set of mobile equipment embedded with modern soil testing technologies, is a bilateral project between the Government of Rwanda and the Kingdom of Morocco with the objectives of analyzing soil samples in order to produce a soil fertility map; soil sampling, and soil analyzes by the mobile laboratory and the fixed laboratory at Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB).

The new facility will also support efforts invested in sensitizing smallholder farmers on best agricultural practices based on a rational use of fertilizers adapted to soil and crop needs.

Speaking at the launch of the Caravan project, Minister Mukeshimana, thanked the Kingdom of Morocco for the excellent partnership in the area of agriculture development in Rwanda.

“This Caravan project is a product and a testimony of the fraternal relationship between the Republic of Rwanda and the Kingdom of Morocco, as evidenced by exchange visits from His Excellency Paul Kagame to Morocco and His Majesty the King Mohammed VI to Rwanda, as well as several exchange visits by officials of Government and the Private Sector from both Countries,” the Minister said.

This project begins with an initial phase of producing a soil fertility map for a pilot zone of 50,000 ha in Nyabihu, Burera, Rubavu and Musanze, and will be extended to the whole Country later. It’s jointly implemented by RAB with technical support from OCP foundation. It shall support the development of balanced fertilizer blends in Rwanda and will be used to strengthen agricultural extension around soil-testing and balanced fertilizers.

The Caravan project is a precursor to the establishment of a 38 Million USD fertilizer blending facility which is a joint venture involving OCP Africa, Government of Rwanda and APTC.

The project is in line with the fourth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA4) that plans, among others, for technical assistance for developing site specific fertilizer recommendations, mobile soil-testing equipment technologies, and updating of soil maps.