Jubaili Agrotec receives US$35m from IFC to strengthen food security in sub-Saharan Africa

NIGERIA – Jubaili Agrotec, a Nigeria-based agrochemicals manufacturer and distributor, has received US$35 million from IFC to support the company expand its regional footprint and increase thousands of smallholder farmers’ access to key inputs such as fertilizer used to protect crops and increase food production.

The financing package will help Jubaili expand its production capacity in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda, helping to offset Africa’s reliance on agrochemical imports.

With support from the local currency facility of the International Development Association’s Private Sector Window, IFC is providing US$20 million of the financing in Nigerian Naira.

“Agriculture is a significant part of many African economies and our partnership with IFC will help us to expand across Africa to reach thousands of farmers, helping them to build more resilience in their crops,” said Rajab Jubaili, Managing Director of Jubaili Agrotec.

The financial support will be accompanied by advisory services to enable Jubaili incorporate products that contribute to climate adaptation and climate smart agriculture such as drip irrigation equipment.

The advisory work will also support smallholder farmers to integrate sustainable farming techniques and benefit from improved productivity and incomes.

IFC’s financing and advisory support to Jubaili is part of the organization’s broader work in Africa to support sustainable agriculture practices and to develop regional value chains and markets that will support the continent’s food security and job creation.

“Our partnership with Jubaili will contribute to improving food production in sub-Saharan Africa at a time when many parts of Africa, and the world, face rising food prices and food shortages.

“The region is heavily reliant on imported agrochemicals for crop protection and this partnership will improve the competitiveness of local production, thereby bolstering Africa’s agricultural resilience,” said Samuel Dzotefe, IFC’s Manager for Agribusiness and Forestry in Africa.

Founded in Lebanon in 1944, Jubaili Agrotec is a leading importer, formulator, manufacturer and distributor of agrochemicals in Africa, including over 130 crop protection products (CPPs), to farmers, retailers, and other value chain players.

The product portfolio includes crop protection products (i.e., insecticide, herbicide, fungicide), animal feed, veterinary drugs, fertilizer and sprayers and seeds. It reaches over 50,000 farmers and has c. 40 warehouses and over 100 retail depots.

The group has expanded its geographical footprint for the distribution and sale of its products in Ghana (2014), Uganda (2015), Tanzania (2016) and Kenya (2017).

As of September 2021, Jubaili was employing over 2,300 workers in five operating countries. The group has separate subsidiaries for distribution, formulation/manufacturing and procurement in various countries.

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