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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Nigeria and Morocco agreement between Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers of Nigeria (FEPSAN) and a Moroccan company, OCP, will yield one million tonnes of fertilizer through local production for next farming season, the Presidency has said.
According to the Senior Special Assistance on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement, this is a short term solution that will force the price of fertilizer from N8,000 to as low as about N5,000.
Shehu said in a Memorandum of Understanding also signed during the visit of King Mohammed VI of Morocco to Nigeria by Mr. Thomas Etuh, President of FEPSAN and Dr. Mostafa Terrab, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the OCP Group, FEPSAN and OCP will come together to promote innovation in an effort to contribute towards productivity-led agricultural growth and improve farmer livelihood.
Said he: “OCP, a majority state-owned company of Morocco, is a world leader in phosphate and its derivatives, committed to the development of agriculture in Africa. “The agreement also seeks to promote the use of agricultural inputs, including access to adequate fertilizers as a major lever for improving agricultural productivity and farmers’ income.”
The Federal Government had set up the National Fertilizer Technical Committee, under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, to put the country on the path of sustainable production of quality fertilizer for both local consumption and export.
President Buhari has said he was aware that the Nigerian fertilizer industry possesses a blending capacity of four million tonnes of NPK annually and two million tonnes of production capacity for Urea, with ability to employ over 250,000 people in both direct and indirect jobs across the country.
Shehu said less than 10 per cent of these production capacities currently was being utilised, hence the MOU.
The specific areas of collaboration include: securing a supply of quality fertilizers by bringing in raw materials required for the production of the item in line with the crops and soils adaptable to Nigeria, for which the information will be supplied by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture; strengthening blending capabilities by leveraging on technical know-how and engineering capabilities; stimulating product innovation and development through the deployment of the Moroccan expertise in producing scientifically recommended formulae adaptable to the needs of the Nigerian soil. Other areas include: strengthening capacity to ensure a timely supply of quality fertilizers in adequate quantities and in a cost-effective manner to rural areas as well as an efficient supply chain and improvement of logistics management, including warehousing and transportation services; and strengthening the agricultural extension services system.
President Buhari has repeatedly stated his administration’s determination to ensure that food importation in Nigeria ceases by the year 2019.
