The Federal Government has called for the establishment of a regulatory framework to ensure that quality fertilizers are distributed to farmers.
The government said a draft Fertilizer Bill has passed First Reading on the floor of the National Assembly.
Deputy Director, Quality Control, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Chinyere Akudinobi, said the government considered it necessary to develop a regulatory framework for quality checks and enforcement to ensure that farmers accessed quality fertilizers.
In her presentation at the launch of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, in Abuja, said fertilizer was needed to increase crop productivity and production.
She said: “Nigeria’s agriculture sector has enormous potential with an opportunity to increase output by up to 160 per cent in 2030.
“The realisation of the above potential could be achieved by policy capacity, stability, and implementation efficiency, competitive input end subsidy administration system and optimal use of fertilizers among others.
“One of the measures to ensure quality fertilizers are distributed to farmers especially for the small scale farmers is to establish a fertilizer regulatory frame work system.”
She said Nigerian farmers used 790, 000 metric tonnes (MT) of fertilizer annually, adding that off this, 280, 000 MT are blended locally every year while the rest are imported.
She said:“It is in this direction that AGRA is supporting the ministry in the establishment of an efficient fertilizer regulatory system which would ensure that the right kind and quality fertilizers are sold to Nigerian farmers at prices such that while farmers achieve higher crop yields, the environment will not be negatively impacted.
“The overall objective of the project is to increase household productivity and income through the establishment of a functional fertilizer regulatory system in Nigeria.”
