From Tongnaan Bawa, Jos
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Sen. Abubakar Kyari has tasked all operators of fertilizer industry to uphold high level of business integrity and avoid indulging in any act that may be seen as a violation of the fertilizer law.
He said the Department of Farm Inputs Support Services (FISS) in his Ministry is empowered by the law to arrest and prosecute violators of the law.
The Minister stated this on Wednesday during the commissioning of the Duncan Fertilizer Blending Plant at Larwin in Heipang Barki Ladi LGA, of Plateau State.
Represented by the Director of Farm Inputs Support Services Alhaji Abana Waziri Abba said fertilizers inspectors have been trained and deployed to different States of the country.
He urged all fertilizer operators to ensure that they cooperate with inspectors from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and visit their facility for inspection and collection of samples of fertilizers for quality checks.
Adding that because obstruction of inspectors from carrying out the duties and responsibilities assigned to them is a violation.
” I feel delighted that I am here today to commission this laudable facility which is built to deliver quality fertilizers to Nigerian farmers for increased food production. I am particularly happy because this is happening at the time mr.President declared an emergency on food security.
“Today, we have a large number of fertilizer blending plants located in different parts of the country. In the efforts to reverse the growing food deficiencies, there have been a series of policies initiated and implemented by the Government aimed at increasing agricultural productivity.
Kyari disclosed during the era of fertilizer importation, there was heavy application of NPK 15-15-15 by farmers. Which had both economic and technical implications for the agricultural space.
He said farmers were made to pay for nutrients which are not consumed by their crops while the soil was fed
with high levels of Phosphorus (p) and Potassium (k) which are not utilized.
The Minister noted that given the current global cost of fertilizers, farmers cannot afford to waste nutrients but to provide crops with the right types of nutrients in the right doses for optimal crop production. “This is the gap being filled by the local blending plants as it is now possible to produce any type of NPK formulations with macro and micro-nutrients added to address the varying nutrient needs of crops.
He assured investors in the fertilizer space that the government will continue to do whatever is necessary to support the growth of the fertilizer industry by protecting the private sector investments in the industry.
Adding that one of such efforts is the enactment of the National Fertilizer Quality Control Act, 2019 which has three primary objectives of safeguarding the interests of fertilizer enterprises and contributing to the creation of an enabling environment for private sector investment in the fertilizer industry.
The Minister however commended and congratulated Duncan Fertilizers for the huge investment in the fertilizer space and stated the determination of the government to continue to support and protect private sector investments in the country.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang commended the Duncan fertilizer company for sitting the project in the state.
Represented by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development Samson Ishaku Bugama said his administration came on the strength of agriculture and said he would actualise opportunity company for the benefit of the state.
He assures you that his Government will do everything that is within its power to see that fertilizer plants continue to serve the farmers of Plateau State and Nigerians as a whole.
Former Governor of Imo State Senator Rochas Okorocha on his part tasked the Federal Government under the administration of President Bola Tinubu to focus on Agriculture and Education to end food security for the Country.
He said if the government at all level focuses on agriculture and education most of the challenges of this country will be a thing of the past.
Senator Okorocha who was the Chairman of the occasion commended the Chief Executive Officer of the Plateau Duncan Fertilizer Company for the remarkable project.
He said that one of the essentials of life is food, but the biggest challenge in the country today is how to feed the population.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Plateau Duncan Fertilizer Company Dr. Godfrey Bawa Shitgurum said the company is a Public-private partnership between the Plateau State government and the Duncan group which is poised to be the delight of farmers across the country and the pride of Plateau State.
“Plateau Duncan Fertilizer Company Limited is a public-private partnership between Plateau State Government and Oil and Chemical International (OCI) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Duncan Group.
“The partnership was signed in August 2016 for the purpose of establishing and operating an ultra-modernNPK fertilizer blending plant that will ensure food security for all by boosting the productivity of the agrarian population of Plateau State and the country at large. The 80tph blending plant was wholly funded and completed in 2023 by OCI.
He disclosed that the facility is managed by a skilled and dedicated team of highly qualified professionals. Coupled with our sophisticated equipment and our value
commitment to quality, our brand product”
“Plateau Duncan Fertilizer” is poised to be the delight of farmers across the country and the pride of Plateau State. Our blended NPK formulations include NPK 15-15-15, NPK 20-10-10, NPK 12-12-17. We also produce specialized blends on demand and maintain a research department committed to improving and enriching the formulations available to farmers.
Gwom Rwei Heipang Da Paul Tadi Tok appreciated the Duncan company for sitting fertiliser company in their locality and promised to protect the property as well as seek assistance from the company to provide electricity to the host communities.