The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is deliberating with stakeholders on the charges/fees to be prescribed for the various services that would be rendered for the enforcement of the National Fertilizer Quality Control 2019 Act.
Though the deliberation is a continuous process, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Abdulkadir Mua’zu, wants the stakeholders to holistically examine every proposed step before consideration for adoption.
The Permanent Secretary, who was speaking during the Operationalization of the National Fertilizer Quality Control, NFQC, Act 2019 explained the need for the deliberation, insisting it will enable the swift enforcement of the act.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment towards implementing the National Fertilizer Quality Control Act 2019, Mu’azu said the policy would safeguard the interest of the farmers against nutrient deficiencies, adulteration, misleading claims, short weight among others.
He noted that the ministry has, however, been unrelenting in the bid to set in motion the enforcement of the Fertilizer Act and accordingly develop regulations for its implementation which has been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for review by legal draftsmen and subsequent gazetting’’.
Mu’azu informed that the Act will ensure that fertilizer regulatory system is in place adding that the initiative would increase agricultural productivity for national food security.
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He said, once enforcement is in motion, it will safeguard interests of fertilizer enterprises, thereby creating an enabling environment for private sector investment and protect the environment against potential dangers that may result from the use of harmful substances in fertilizer’.
Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu
