Senior officials from MOFI, NAFDAC, DAPCO, North-West Governors’ Forum and AgroXchange Nigeria gain first-hand experience of Nano Urea Plus and Nano DAP
Aonla (Bareilly), Uttar Pradesh: A high-level delegation of senior Nigerian government and institutional officials visited the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) plant at Aonla and adjoining agricultural fields, where they gained first-hand experience of IFFCO’s cutting-edge nano fertilizer technology — Nano Urea Plus and Nano DAP. This historic visit was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Nigeria and Red Olive Fertilizer and Chemicals — FZCO (ROFC), Dubai — the sole authorised facilitation agency for the marketing and distribution of IFFCO nano fertilizers in Nigeria.
The delegation comprised senior officials from Nigeria’s leading government and regulatory institutions, including MOFI’s Executive Director (Investments) Dr. Femi Ogunseinde and Investment Analyst Jalani Ndada Naphtali; NAFDAC’s Deputy Director Nyoyoko Innocent Gabriel and Chief Regulatory Officer Haruna Danjuma Enemaku; DAPCO Chairman Aliyu Abdulhameed; North-West Governors’ Forum Director-General Maryam Musa Yahaya and Technical Assistant Munjudurrahman Ibrahim; FISS Director Dr. Musa M. Umar and Assistant Director George M. Ayuba; and AgroXchange Nigeria’s Managing Director Ayodele Olajiga, Director Technical Yetunde Odedokun and Director Finance Adeniran Ajakaiye Joseph.
The Architects of This Historic Visit
This landmark visit is the result of the extraordinary dedication, diplomatic foresight and tireless efforts of two individuals — Director of ROFC (Dubai), Kashif Hasan, and IFFCO’s Head of Exports, Girish Sharma.
Kashif Hasan was the first to recognise the commercial potential of IFFCO’s nano fertilizer technology in Nigeria, and through years of rigorous effort, sustained dialogue and strategic vision, played a central role in giving this partnership its concrete form. From establishing a relationship with a sovereign institution of the stature of MOFI to conceiving and executing this delegation’s visit to India, his leadership, dedication and commercial acumen are evident at every stage.
IFFCO’s Head of Exports, Girish Sharma, made an unparalleled contribution on IFFCO’s behalf in translating the entire plan into reality on the ground. The structuring of the Nigerian delegation’s visit, the field tour programme, coordination of technical presentations and the responsibility of connecting the delegation with the ground realities of Indian agriculture were executed with exceptional competence. The partnership between these two individuals stands as an inspiring example for India-Africa agricultural cooperation.
In the agricultural fields of Aonla, IFFCO’s technical team, led by State Marketing Manager Yatindra and other Area Officers of IFFCO, provided the delegation with detailed guidance on the practical application of Nano Urea Plus and Nano DAP. Members of the delegation personally entered the fields to observe the spraying method, dilution ratios and the effect of these nano fertilizers at various crop growth stages. The technical team also explained how a single 500 ml bottle is equivalent to a 50 kg bag of conventional fertilizer, resulting in substantial savings in transportation, storage and input costs.
Following the field visit, the delegation was also taken to the IFFCO Kisan Seva Kendra (IKSK) in Saindha, Bareilly, and the IFFCO Bazaar franchise at Malgaon. The delegation was briefed on the range of services available to farmers at both centres, including agricultural advisory services, availability of fertilizers and agri-inputs, and IFFCO’s Soil Testing and Analysis Service. This service provides a comprehensive scientific analysis of soil samples, covering soil characteristics, nutrient-holding capacity and micronutrient deficiencies. The delegation described the service as highly relevant for Nigeria, where severe deficiencies of nitrogen and phosphorus in savanna zone soils represent a major agricultural challenge.
“This visit has been an extremely enriching experience for us. IFFCO’s nano fertilizer technology not only enhances productivity but is also capable of bringing about a revolutionary reduction in agricultural input costs for countries like Nigeria. We are committed to further strengthening this partnership.”
— Dr. Femi Ogunseinde, Executive Director (Investments), Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Nigeria
This visit marks the beginning of a new chapter in India-Nigeria agricultural cooperation. Negotiations for a long-term trilateral trade agreement between IFFCO, MOFI and AgroXchange Nigeria are in their final stages, under which ROFC will be granted the exclusive right to market and distribute Nano Urea Plus and Nano DAP in Nigeria. The agreement envisages a minimum supply of 5 million bottles over three years.
Nano fertilizer technology is particularly beneficial for Nigerian farmers because the soils of Nigeria’s savanna zone suffer from acute deficiencies of nitrogen and phosphorus. More than 12,000 farmer field trials conducted by IFFCO have demonstrated that the Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) of Nano Urea Plus exceeds 80%, compared with 25–30% for conventional urea. This enables farmers to achieve higher output at lower input costs.
The IFFCO Kisan Seva Kendra and IFFCO Bazaar model generated particular interest within the delegation. Nigerian officials held detailed discussions on the possibilities of replicating this model in Nigeria’s rural agricultural sector. The Soil Testing Service, in particular, was identified as an important tool for Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture policy framework.
“This visit by the Nigerian delegation feels like the realisation of a dream for us. When we laid the foundation of this partnership in 2023, we believed that India’s nano fertilizer revolution could transform the lives of farmers in Africa. Today, seeing Nigeria’s senior officials personally going into the fields and experiencing this technology first-hand has only made that belief stronger.”
— Kashif Hasan, Director, Red Olive Fertilizer and Chemicals – FZCO (ROFC), Dubai
“IFFCO has always worked with a global vision and we knew that nano fertilizer technology would be a game-changer for countries like Nigeria, where soil conditions, crop patterns and the challenges facing farmers closely mirror those in India. Making this visit a reality alongside Kashif Hasan has been a deeply satisfying personal experience for me.”
— Girish Sharma, Head Exports, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO)
With the successful conclusion of this visit, both sides have further consolidated mutual understanding and trust. The signing of a historic agricultural cooperation agreement between India and Nigeria is expected shortly, which will not only strengthen Nigeria’s food security but will also pave the way for improved incomes and livelihoods for millions of smallholder farmers. The initiative launched under the leadership of Kashif Hasan and Girish Sharma is expected to become a significant chapter in India-Africa agricultural cooperation, with the potential to expand across other West African nations in the future.
