As part of efforts to ensure self-sufficiency in food production, the Federal Government initiated policies aimed at making fertiliser accessible and affordable to farmers, especially those in the rural areas.
However, an investigation by ait.live indicates that despite all efforts to ensure easy access and availability of fertiliser, farmers across the country are still complaining of either low quality or high costs of the commodity.
Nigerian Government had over the years, rolled out various programmes aimed at ensuring food security. One of such initiatives by the Federal Government was the revival of fertiliser blending plants across the country. At the moment, Nigeria has 35 fertiliser plants, with an executive order to supply farmers fertiliser products at the rate of N5,000 per bag.
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Despite this fact, some farmers have said challenges still abound, which they have attributed to faulty distribution chain, inefficient security measures, politicisation of distribution process and the menace of middlemen, which have led to a hike in prices.
Some persons involved in the Agric and food production chains who spoke to ait.live say restriction of sales of certain brands of fertiliser in some states resulted in scarcity and price hike. Others blamed the cost on factors such as logistics.
Nigeria with a population of about 200 million people has been struggling to attain self-sufficiency in food production and has relied heavily on food importation.
Economists have advised that government at all levels must take the issues of Agriculture seriously and ensure that every policy aimed at reviving the sector follows through appropriate channels with dedication to achieving results for increased food production, especially as the country battles the raging Covid-19 pandemic.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
