…as draft Fertilizer Bill sails through first reading
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has unveiled plans to develop a regulatory framework for quality checks and enforcement on fertilizer with a view to ensuring that farmers access quality fertilizer inputs.
Giving the hint at the launch of a soil project on the Establishment and Implementation of fertilizer Quality Control System in Nigeria supported by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) at the Ministry in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, said that the legal and regulatory framework for fertilizer quality control would enable Federal Government inspectors to undertake periodic quality control at fertilizer production plants, ports of discharge and market outlets.
He said that fertilizer samples would be drawn by inspection officials for laboratory analysis. Represented by the Director, Farm Input Support Service Department of the Ministry, Mr. Akinbolawa Osho, the Permanent Secretary said government had identified some violations in the subsector which include, plant nutrient deficiencies, misbranding, adulteration, short weight of bags, bagging quality, operating without certificate of registration or with expired certificate of registration.
He condemned the activities of some unscrupulous players who had been ripping off farmers the benefit accruable from their investment in fertilizers. Echono dislosed that a Draft Fertiliser Bill the ministry sent to the National Assembly had passed the first reading and would soon be passed by the Legislature.
He reiterated the present administration’s drive in the agricultural sector of the economy which is geared towards job creation, food security and poverty reduction.
He commended the AGRA for its continued support towards the development of a regulatory framework for the establishment and implementation of fertilizer quality control system in the country, amongst other initiatives.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Deputy Director, Quality Control, in the ministry and the project Manager, Mrs. Chinyere Akudinobi, explained that the project was aimed at developing and implementing a functional fertilizer regulatory system in the country which she said would address the problems of fertilizer quality in Nigeria.
In the goodwill message of AGRA, delivered by Mary Yaodze, Technical Assistant to the soil health programme, she expressed the confidence the organisation reposed in the ministry and pledged their continued collaboration, which she said would improve production, quality of fertilizer and its control.
The launch of the project attracted representatives of development partners from ECOWAS Commission, International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), USAID (Nigeria), and the clerks of both the Senate and House Committees on Agriculture