Adulterated fertiliser
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 5:36 pm
Adulterated fertiliser
Adulterated fertiliser threatens Nigeria’s food security
Nigeria quest for food security is under threats as farmers continue to record failed crop due to the use of adulterated and fake fertilisers that lacks the required nutrients needed by crops.
Reports from Cross River, Kaduna and Anambra states say farmers are experiencing damaged on the crops caused by the use of adulterated and fake fertilisers distributed by some agro dealers during the planting season, BusinessDay learnt.
This is coming on the heels of the Federal Government’s inability to force down the prices of fertiliser since January which it pegged at N5, 000 per bag. The Federal Government slashed the price of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) fertiliser to N5, 000 per bag to encourage farmers to boost agricultural production in the country.
In spite of this, a 50kg bag of NPK fertiliser is currently being sold at N9,500 in the open market, while Urea is sold at N10,000.
“Farmers are complaining of failed crop as a result of adulterated fertilisers available in the market. Part of the problem while we have not boosted production in some key crops is on the account of failed crops as a result of low quality fertilisers in the market,” said Richard Mbaram, director general, Feed Nigeria Summit Secretariat.
“We are calling on all relevant authorities concern to look at the quality of fertilisers available in the market,” Mbaram said.
He stated that such practices in the fertiliser and pesticide industry puts the government quest for food security in peril, noting that unregulated components mixed with the fertilisers can cause long-term effects to the quality of soil.
According to him, fertiliser is vitamins for soil and consists of three main types, nitrogen, potash and phosphate. He urged the government to have a clear cut approach that is tested and should be the basis for distributing fertilisers to farmers and also revive the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) to cushion losses caused by use of sub-standard fertiliser.
Ahmed Rabiu Kwa, executive secretary, Fertilisers Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) said “We are aware that fertilisers are being adulterated just like you have fake in other products in the country.”
“This is because there is no fertiliser law to protect farmers in the country. The law will make it easy to punish people or organisations found guilty of such act,” Kwa said.
Recently in Anambra State, the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Export had raised alarm over the circulation of uncertified agricultural inputs, mostly fertilisers, allegedly brought into the state by unscrupulous individuals.
It listed the fake agricultural inputs to include substandard fertilizers, rice seedlings and insecticides, according to a wire report.
The ministry warned farmers in the state, registered cooperative societies and others associated with the agricultural value chain against the purchase and usage of such fake inputs.
https://www.businessdayonline.com/adult ... -security/
Adulterated fertiliser threatens Nigeria’s food security
Nigeria quest for food security is under threats as farmers continue to record failed crop due to the use of adulterated and fake fertilisers that lacks the required nutrients needed by crops.
Reports from Cross River, Kaduna and Anambra states say farmers are experiencing damaged on the crops caused by the use of adulterated and fake fertilisers distributed by some agro dealers during the planting season, BusinessDay learnt.
This is coming on the heels of the Federal Government’s inability to force down the prices of fertiliser since January which it pegged at N5, 000 per bag. The Federal Government slashed the price of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) fertiliser to N5, 000 per bag to encourage farmers to boost agricultural production in the country.
In spite of this, a 50kg bag of NPK fertiliser is currently being sold at N9,500 in the open market, while Urea is sold at N10,000.
“Farmers are complaining of failed crop as a result of adulterated fertilisers available in the market. Part of the problem while we have not boosted production in some key crops is on the account of failed crops as a result of low quality fertilisers in the market,” said Richard Mbaram, director general, Feed Nigeria Summit Secretariat.
“We are calling on all relevant authorities concern to look at the quality of fertilisers available in the market,” Mbaram said.
He stated that such practices in the fertiliser and pesticide industry puts the government quest for food security in peril, noting that unregulated components mixed with the fertilisers can cause long-term effects to the quality of soil.
According to him, fertiliser is vitamins for soil and consists of three main types, nitrogen, potash and phosphate. He urged the government to have a clear cut approach that is tested and should be the basis for distributing fertilisers to farmers and also revive the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) to cushion losses caused by use of sub-standard fertiliser.
Ahmed Rabiu Kwa, executive secretary, Fertilisers Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) said “We are aware that fertilisers are being adulterated just like you have fake in other products in the country.”
“This is because there is no fertiliser law to protect farmers in the country. The law will make it easy to punish people or organisations found guilty of such act,” Kwa said.
Recently in Anambra State, the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Export had raised alarm over the circulation of uncertified agricultural inputs, mostly fertilisers, allegedly brought into the state by unscrupulous individuals.
It listed the fake agricultural inputs to include substandard fertilizers, rice seedlings and insecticides, according to a wire report.
The ministry warned farmers in the state, registered cooperative societies and others associated with the agricultural value chain against the purchase and usage of such fake inputs.
https://www.businessdayonline.com/adult ... -security/
