Production Of 1m Tonnes Of Fertilizer is achievable - Says FG’sPresidential Committee

 

Presidential Committee on Fertilizer Initiative says that the Federal Government is dedicated to the actualization of producing one million tonnes of fertilizers in the country.

Mr Thomas Etuh, a member of the committee and National President, Fertilizers Suppliers and Producers Association of Nigeria (FESPAN), made this known in Okpella, Estako East Local Government Area on Wednesday.

Etuh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fertilizer companies in the country had the capacity to produce the one million tonnes.

“We are working closely with the Federal Government to address the problems associated with provision of fertilizers in the country."

“And the Federal Government one million metric tonnes of fertilizer production is achievable,” he said.

Etuh said that the Federal Government’s fertilizer initiative was to encourage local production and ensure affordable fertilizer to farmers across the country.

“The aim of the initiative is to encourage local production of fertilizer in order to create more job opportunities for Nigerians, induce reduction of inflation and reduce foreign exchange."

“A bag of fertilizer goes between N8,000 and N9,000 a bag; with this initiative, we will bring the cost of fertilizer down to N5,000 at the plant and N5,500 to the farmers, and that saves a cost of over 30 per cent for the farmers."

“Also it will help bring food prices down, but more importantly, through this one million metric tonnes of fertilizer programme, we are looking at the country saving 200 million dollars foreign exchange yearly from this programme,” he said.

The FESPAN chairman, however, assured farmers of quality supply of fertilizer across the country

“The Federal Government has come up with good plans and we are ready to support government so that enough fertilizers will be supplied to our farmers in all farming seasons,” he said.