…a bold step towards sustainable agriculture
A pre-launch seminar was organized by Jay Kay Industries & Investment Limited last week at Alisa Hotel in Accra to officially introduce Nano Urea Liquid Fertilizer under the brand name ‘ROKO’. Jay Kay Industries and Investment Limited aims to make Roko Nano Urea readily available for all farmers in the country.
The seminar was attended by a broad spectrum of stakeholders in Ghana’s agricultural value chain including officers from the Agricultural Extension Agency (AEA) of the Ministry of Food & Agriculture (MOFA), Plant Protection & Regulatory Services Department (PPRSD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Crops Research Institute (CRI) & Soil Research Institute (SRI) of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Dean of the School of Agriculture of the University of Ghana.
The seminar also attractor major private stakeholders in Ghana’s agri-sector including Agri-Impact Limited, NewAge Agric Solutions Limited, Complete Farmer, the Horticultural Business Platform (HBP), Agrihouse Foundation, and others.
Roko Nano Urea, an innovative liquid fertilizer that supplies nitrogen more efficiently to plants. This eco-friendly product promises to boost crop yields, reduce waste, and lessen environmental impacts, marking a significant advancement in Ghana’s agricultural landscape.
Head of Brand, Marketing and Business Development at Jay Kay Industries, Shreeman Narayan stated his outfit “has served Ghana for the last 30 years” and entreated participants to take a “bold step together in embracing innovation, sustainability, and collaboration for a healthier and more secured Ghana.”
At a pre-launch event, Mr. Enam Yakah, Agri Lead at Jay Kay Industries, highlighted its key advantages, describing it as “a game-changer” for farmers. “This 500ml bottle is equivalent to a 50kg bag of granular urea and can fit in a farmer’s pocket, significantly lowering operational costs. Roko Nano Urea is a substitute to the granular urea and not a supplement,” Yakah stated.
In explaining how this Roko Nano Urea works, a Global Managing Partner of the Roko Nano Urea, Mr. Sacti Velane, educated the participants that the Nano Urea works through the “leaves’ stomata”. Mr. Sacti added that when you apply the Nano Urea through foliar spray (the only instructed method of application), it goes through the stomata and other pores.
Nano Urea, which is applied as a foliar spray, directly nourishes plant leaves rather than the soil, preserving soil nutrients for future crops. Leveraging advanced nanotechnology, this product is positioned to improve crop productivity and promote sustainable farming practices across Ghana. Some of the key benefits of using Roko Nano Urea are:
- Higher yield
- Increased income
- Less chemicals
- Environmentally friendly
- Enhanced crop quality
- Easy transportation
Dr. Michael Osei, Head of the Horticulture Division at CSIR-Crops Research Institute, endorsed Nano Urea as a practical solution for farmers, especially given the generally acidic nature of Ghanaian soils. He advised farmers to conduct soil tests to ensure proper nutrient levels, but he emphasized that Nano Urea’s formulation does not adversely impact soil pH, unlike traditional granular fertilizers.
“While soil analysis is ideal, Nano Urea provides a reliable alternative for farmers who don’t typically test their soil,” Dr. Osei explained. He recommended an application rate of 500ml per acre during the vegetative stage to enhance plant growth and productivity. Dr. Osei also expressed interest in further research to optimize nitrogen use and refine application guidelines for farmers.
Professor Eric Nartey, Dean of the School of Agriculture at the University of Ghana, praised Nano Urea for its unique approach to nutrient delivery. Unlike conventional fertilizers that rely on soil absorption, Nano Urea supplies nutrients directly through the leaves, bypassing the soil and helping to prevent soil acidification.
“With traditional urea, nitrogen has to be converted in the soil before plants can absorb it, a process that contributes to soil acidity. Around 85percent of Ghana’s soils are now acidic due to prolonged use of ammonium-based fertilizers,” Prof. Nartey noted. “Nano Urea offers a more sustainable solution by bypassing the soil, reducing acidity, and supporting soil regeneration.”
In a presentation, the Head of Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Division at the Soil Research Institute, stated that a “significantly lesser dosage of Nano Urea is required compared to traditional urea”, and “because of its minimal effect on the soil, it is environmentally friendly as there is minimal nitrate leaching, water contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the effect of [Nano] urea fertilizers causing soil acidity is less.”
The seminar was also attended by the first two agri-input dealers to buy and display the Roko Nano Urea in their shops, First Village Group Limited (Nsawam) and Word Miracle Enterprise (Begoro), all from the Eastern Region of Ghana. A vegetable farmer hailing from Begoro, Alhassan Mohammed, was also in attendance to share his impactful experience of buying the Roko Nano Urea from the dealership and the many benefits he got from applying the fertilizer on his vegetables.
Roko Nano Urea is the first product of its kind on the Ghanaian market, and its eco-friendly formulation minimizes nitrate leaching, water contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions. By reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint, Nano Urea represents a substantial move towards more sustainable farming in Ghana and sets a new standard for environmentally conscious crop management. Jay Kay industries also plans to introduce Nano DAP, Nano NPK and other Nano fertilizers into the Ghanaian.
