Head of Agronomy at Indorama Fertilizers, Nigeria
Dr. Balbir Singh, PhD Agronomy from Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, his academic research was on Integrated Nutrient Management of Rice (University Topper in Masters and Doctorate).
Started career with Bayer Crop Science (Seeds and Agrochemicals), worked with Coromandel International Ltd (Fertilizer), Mahyco Monsanto (Cereals and Seeds), Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd (Speciality Fertilizers) and Export Trading Group for Agro-commodity (Coffee, Maize, Fertilizers, Sesame, Soybean, Beans, Tea, Sisal) Operation, Procurement, Export, Import and new agribusiness ventures.
Worked on Agri Business Development in Emerging Economies: India, Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon, Tanzania, Indonesia and Nigeria.
Working with Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals Ltd, as Head Business Development and Agronomy, World’s Largest Single Line granular Urea Fertilizer Plant at Port Harcourt, Nigeria, 1.5 MTPA Capacity, supplying to ECOWAS and Latin American Countries. IEFCL is highly contributing for Agronomy, Extension, Branding, Promotion and Liaison with national and International development partners.
Agribusiness Leader of the Year-2014, by African Agribusiness Investment Summit, Kampala, Uganda. Panellist and Key Speaker at International Conf on Agril (CVL), Lagos, International Fertilizer Value Chain (IFDC/AFAP) at Accra, Agrik Expo n Conference (NABG)-2016 & 17, Abuja, Africa Fertilizer & Agribusiness Conf -2016, 17, 18, Dar, Accra, Addis, Dakar, Maputo etc, ECOWAS food security Conf Abuja-2016, IPNC Copenhagen, Denmark, FMO Nairobi, Kenya and CRU/Argus Conferences on Fertilizers across Africa and Latin America (Ghana, Mozambique, IVC, Senegal, Ethiopia, SA and Brazil etc.) and IFA,2019 Montreal, Canada.
Non Professional Interest: Having keen interest in kitchen garden, flowers, vegetables and fruits, passionate and play- Table tennis, Badminton and Chess, reader n writer of Agribusiness articles.
Session: Farmers training and education is key factors to increase farm income and food security
Advanced tool for Farmer training and education in Africa
Most Populated African Country home to 2.6% of the population of the world (7th largest)
By 2050, Population is projected to reach 410 million making it 3rd largest in the world.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy
Agriculture contributing to 1/3rd of GDP employing 2/3rd of population
Average farm holding size of 0.8-1 ha ; One of the the lowest in the World
Largest producer of Yam and Cassava
Largest Importer of Rice and Wheat
Around 34.0 Mn Ha area is under cultivation
Cereal crops (Sorghum, Maize, Millet and Rice) which requires higher fertilizer application occupies more than 50% of the cultivated area (23.2 Mn Ha)
Major staple crops in Nigeria are cassava, yam, maize, sorghum, rice and millet.
Learning outcomes:
- Agronomy and Fertilizer contribution in Food security
- African Agriculture
- How to convert subsistence Agri to Industrial Agri
- Agri input application
Additional information and programme of International Conference on Innovation in Agriculture, Food and Biological Systems in the Digital Age here
