Mohammed Abubakar disclosed this in Abuja during an interview session at the end of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative’s meeting, with the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono in his office. He said through the local production of fertilizers, the moribund fertilizer plants will be revived and will in turn, create employment for Nigerians.
The Governor said that his visit to the Minister was to brief him on the “preparation and planning for the production of fertilizers for the 2020 wet season”.
Alhaji Abubakar further said that, in order to improve on the production and ensure its availability and affordability to the Nigerian farmers, production would be increased and sold at a subsidized rate to the farmers, especially the NPK 20-20, which is the most sort after by the farmers.
The Governor also stated that the committee is considering the possibility of the exportation of the NPK 20-20 fertilizer. “If it succeeds in getting phosphate in Sokoto and potash around Yobe, then there will be the possibility of enriching its blend for export”.he added.
The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) was flagged-off in December 2016, by President Muhammed Buhari and it is aimed at supporting the domestic blending of NPK fertilizer, towards reducing the challenges of the Nigerian farmers. The Nigeria fertilizer Industry possesses a blending capacity of 4 million tons of NPK annually and 2 million tons of production for Urea, with the capacity to employ over 250,000 people across the country.
Samuel O. Uzoegbu
For: Director Information FMARD
