Published on: 2026-11-05
Source: Phosagro – Phosagro – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Moscow. October 30, 2026. Mikhail Sterkin, Deputy General Director of PJSC PhosAgro for Marketing, spoke at the panel session “From Food Products to Agrotechnologies,” held as part of the Third Russia–Africa Forum. Participants discussed which Russian agrotechnologies are in demand in Africa, where low soil fertility remains one of the main constraints for agriculture, and what is necessary to launch joint projects.
The discussion also involved the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water Resources and Land Reform of the Republic of Namibia, Inge Zaamwani; the Governor of Niger State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mohammed Umaru Bago; the Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Government of the North West Province of South Africa, Lebo Diale; the Advisor to the Head of the Federal Center “Agroexport,” Alexander Yakuba; the Director of the Agroanalytics Center, Dmitry Aveltsov; the General Director of JSC “Shchelkovo Agrochem,” Salis Karakotov; the Senior Vice President of GAP “Resource,” Dmitry Antonov; and the Vice-Rector for International Affairs of the Timiryazev Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Agricultural Academy, Pavel Shevtsov. The session was moderated by the Head of Export Development Department of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, Ekaterina Fomina.
Inge Saamvani stated that Namibia produces only 60% of the required grain and is forced to import seeds and fertilizers. “When we talk about partnership with Russia, our main task is to ensure reliable supplies of fertilizers,” emphasized the minister.
Mikhail Sterkin noted that Africa is one of the key export markets for PhosAgro: “PhosAgro increased shipments of mineral fertilizers to the African continent by one third last year. The total volume of PhosAgro’s exports to Africa reached almost one million tons, which is more than twice as much as in 2021. This year, in 9 months, we have already exceeded the entire volume of shipments from last year by 1.5 times – shipping more than 1.3 million tons.” The largest buyers of the company’s products on the continent are South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mozambique.
At the same time, PhosAgro is the largest Russian supplier of fertilizers to African countries. “Our share, according to expert estimates for the first half of 2026, reaches 61% of the total export volume of all types of Russian mineral fertilizers to this continent. As a company whose products account for about a quarter of the total fertilizer imports by African countries, we make an important contribution to strengthening the continent’s food security and its food sovereignty,” noted Mikhail Styerkin.
PhosAgro’s extensive product range allows for taking into account the specifics of African regions and offering farmers the most rational solutions. For example, zinc deficiency is widespread in African soils, resulting in a shortage of this important micronutrient in the diet. When zinc is insufficient, the human body is more susceptible to infectious diseases. This problem is addressed by PhosAgro’s zinc-containing fertilizer brands, which not only enrich plants with zinc but also help them resist stresses related to diseases and pests.
Another relevant product for the African market is the agrochemical ApaSil, introduced in 2023 from a new class – adaptogens. ApaSil boosts the natural immunity of plants, helps them adapt to temperature and water stresses, and helps maintain yield potential under various conditions. This is why it is suitable for use by farmers from all climatic zones of Africa.
According to Alexander Yakuba, in addition to mineral fertilizers, food products, primarily grain and vegetable oils, Russia can offer African countries a wide range of agricultural technologies—from genetics and veterinary vaccines to seeds, crop protection products, and IT solutions. “This is a very promising direction: Africa needs these technologies, and Russia has them,” he said. Russian agricultural attachés from the Ministry of Agriculture, who work in nine African countries, help African companies find Russian partners.
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