| Workers at the Morris fertiliser blending plant, Minna Niger State, during the visit of FEPSAN |
The Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) is set to deliver four million bags of 50kg Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium (NPK) fertilisers to farmers at an affordable price, by December.
Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.
The statement which was signed by Mr Atta Esah, Deputy Director (Information), State House, said Shehu spoke at an audience participation programme on FRCN Kaduna, entitled: `Hannu Da Yawa’.
According to Shehu, the projected delivery of the commodity by December is in addition to the six million bags of 50kg fertilisers already sold to farmers since the Initiative commenced early this year.
“The problem of the shortage of fertilisers and its attendant high cost plaguing the nation’s agricultural production, seemingly intractable for decades, have been resolved following the successful execution of the mandate of the PFI.
“Since the implementation of the Initiative, the six million 50kg bags of NPK fertilisers were purchased by State Governments and agro-dealers across the country,’’ he said.
He noted that the production of locally-blended fertilisers had saved the Federal Government about 150 million dollars this year, hitherto spent on foreign exchange; and N60 billion in budgetary provisions for fertiliser subsidy.
The presidential aide also revealed that the 11 fertiliser blending plants in the country would be increased to 18 by the end of the year, adding that this would in turn provide direct employment to no fewer than 50,000 Nigerians.
He added that the successful implementation of the PFI had made fertilisers available to Nigerian farmers at affordable prices and in time for the 2017 wet season farming.
The PFI is partnering Fertilisers Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) to ensure farmers get fertilisers at an affordable price.