FG assures farmers of fertiliser supply for food production

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, has allayed fears among Nigerian farmers that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to the shortage of fertiliser supply causing scarcity nationwide.

Nanono assured the local farmers that in as much as fertiliser importation would be adversely affected by the pandemic, there is still enough supply of locally produced fertilisers to complement their farming.

According to him, fertilisers are products of local industries from across the country and are meant to increase food production.

However, the establishment of Dangote Fertiliser plant, which is said to be the largest in Africa and the world when it comes on stream, is meant to make Nigeria become a net exporter of fertiliser continentally and also to take care of local needs.

Allaying fears over scarcity, Nanono said: “There is no doubt that the coronavirus disease will impact import and export of goods and services.

“We import some essential items like agricultural equipment, consumables like milk and wheat as well as inputs like chemicals and fertilisers and they will definitely be affected in this regard. In terms of fertiliser, there are companies in some parts of the country and more are coming up.

“For instance, we have two factories in Kaduna, some in Lagos and a host of other states and we can use those ones as substitute for the time being. We have Notore and it is producing very good fertiliser.

“We have Indorama and now Dangote is going to commission its fertilizer company.

“So with all these, we will not be in a very dire situation in terms of fertilizer. It may be a bit expensive but I think we should be able to manage it.”

The minister also said that the government would continue to subsidise fertiliser, in order to reduce the impact of perceived price hike.

He noted that Nigeria would8 focus on boosting fertiliser supply through local production, amid the global pandemic.