“The fertilizer sector has changed massively since we first opened Sakant Enterprise Limited in 1993,” reflected Kwaku Amoah- Safo, Executive Director of Sakant Enterprise Limited, “smallholder farmers are now advising each other to use fertilizer for healthy abundant plants,” He said  at the opening of his bigger storage warehouse in Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Through partnership with the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), Mr Amoah-Safo increased his fertilizer storage holding capacity from 1000MT to a facility with the ability to store 13000MT of fertilizer.  Through a distribution network of 40 retailers, the enterprise will now supply fertilizer to over 12 000 smallholder farmers in eight regions.

“Suitable, quality fertilizer in a timeous manner is what we striving for,” Mr Amoah-Safo said, acknowledging these as some of the constraints prohibiting the use of fertilizer amongst smallholder farmers in Ghana.

Sakant Enterprise Limited entered into an agribusiness partnership agreement with Sakant Enterprise Limited through AFAP’s flexible agribusiness partnership contract (APC) mechanism that allows AFAP to unite the expertise and dedication of the public and private sectors to improve fertilizer affordability and availability in Africa. Through this flexible mechanism, Sakant Enterprise Limited was constructed and completed.

Cecilia Khupe, AFAP’s Director of Programs said: “AFAP’s APC mechanism enables us to partner with agribusinesses that will improve the movement of fertilizer that will be accessible and affordable for African smallholder farmers.”

“With every Agribusiness we partner with, we are closer to reaching AFAP’s goal of increasing fertilizer users and usage in the continent and contributing to the Abuja declaration of increasing fertilizer use in the continent to bolster agricultural production and productivity,” Khupe said

Sakant Enterprise Limited was founded in 1993 to engage in retailing and wholesales of agricultural inputs as well as serves as an output market to farmers in the districts it sells fertilizer in.  Sakant Enterprise Limited also provides the much needed extension services to farmers on the proper application of fertilizer.

Mr Amoah-Safo has promised that he would ensure fertilizers reach farmers with ease, at affordable prices, and in tailored packages, “that will meet the demand of smallholder farmers. Our extension agents will also facilitate them on good agricultural practices.”