By Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

The Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) has said it had raised about N140 billion to guarantee blenders who wish to procure raw materials for this season’s fertiliser production.

FEPSAN National President Thomas Etuh announced this yesterday at the meeting of Input Suppliers, Agro-Dealers and Financial Institutions in Abuja.

Etuh said: “We have raised almost N140 billion cash and guarantee to enable blenders to procure raw materials for this season. But we need more support so that we will be able to buy more.”

The union leader said FEPSAN had been facing some challenges, including adulteration of fertilisers, adding that it was the biggest problem the industry was having due to its big investment.

Read Also: Addressing Nigeria’s fertiliser industry data gaps

Etuh, who was represented by FEPSAN’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Gideon Negedu, said: “When you ask farmers to investment in fertiliser, you are asking them to put in their trust, money for a good yield, base on the fact that the fertiliser will give them good harvests. That is always the case.

“People buy these fertilisers and a lot of them are adulterated because when you have a product that sells into 10/10, 15/15. You should have the nutrients in those proportions. But that is not what you always see.

“That is why we encourage people to patronise FEPSAN-accredited blenders because, more often than not, you would not get quality products from such places. But we are happy that FEPSAN is proud to have worked with the government in coming out with what we call Fertiliser Regulatory Law.

“That law will help and is helping to make sure there are teeth to bite adulterators so that when they are caught doing this, they will serve jail terms. So, all these things are supposed to be there as a deterrent to protect the farmers.

“We pray that the government performs this responsibility by implementing this law so that we can see these adulterated products off the street.”