We expect prospect for local fertilizer in this dispensation FEPSAN, Executive Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Rabiu.

Alhaji Ahmed Rabiu

The local fertilizer production will continue in Nigeria as more indigenous industry are now ready to come on board to checkmate importation that is gulping billion of dollar annually. In this interview the Executive Secretary, fertilizers Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSON) Alhaji Ahmed Rabiu said there would be prospect in this present administration for fertilizer production in the country locally. Read the excerpt interview.

Can You Introduce Yourself Sir?

My Name is Alhaji Ahmed Rabiu, the Executive Secretary of the fertilizers Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria.  The association was founded in 2002, as to address private sector fertilizer issues, because, before that time all fertilizer distribution, supply and marketing was done by government, so in 2004, stakeholders meet to form this association. The association is currently 12years now, our objective is to ensure timely supply of quality fertilizer to the Nigerian farmers and also to collect data and information for the sector for planning purposes by the association, government and other stakeholders. At the moment we are only functional at the National level fertilizer association, and we have most of the fertilizer suppliers, distributors and importers in our association.

How Has the Association Been Able to Support and Encourage Indigenous Fertilizer Producers to Produce More Instead of Importing?
That is one of the main purpose of our association , to encourage indigenous /local production in order to reduce the importation of fertilizer, but you know fertilizer is not a commodity that  you will just go and start producing, it requires large investment and for that to happen you need encouragement from the government, at the moment our investment plan is not very good, high interest rate, transportation account for fertilizer business accounts for 30%, power supply is very ridge, and the companies need power, but at the same there are indigenous companies coming up like Dangote Fertilizer, Prize Fertilizer and Indorama, although Indorama is not fully indigenous company, but they  have decided to invest into Nigeria despite the climate, at the end of this quarter or the next quarter, fertilizer will start rolling from their plants and we are going to produce more than one million tons of fertilizer. At the moment the fertilizer production locally is low, but will get a boost with the rising companies, new investment, will reduce the importation, so that we can safe more money   for our indigenous producers, farmers, while we supply fertilizer that will meet with the requirement of our soil, crops, so there are prospect for indigenous fertilizer production and very soon we will eliminate the import of fertilizer.

How has the Association impacted on the Grassroot Farmers?

Our target is the grassroot farmer who does the real agriculture, you know the grassroot farmers are handicap of resources to buy fertilizer, what we are doing is working with the research institutes and the extension services. We work with the research institute to develop technologies that are suitable for farmer’s use, like the best fertilizer to use and the best method of applying the fertilizer and the best time to apply the fertilizer, so we assist the farmer in developing these technologies. On the aspect of the extension, we look at services, to transmit these technologies to farmers through extension workers, village level extension workers, who will take the message to the grassroot farmers and they take the message from the farmers back to research so that solutions can be found for the problems, they (farmers) encounter on the field/farm.

What about the fertilizer Bill?

There are about two fertilizer bills; the fertilizer law and regulatory framework and also the fertilizer subsidy bill, all these are with the National Assembly. The fertilizer subsidy bill, I think has gone through the second reading, probably gone through the third and final reading and the fertilizer law has been long standing because it has a lot of complications, so to say and because of the changes in the National Assembly, the bill has been there since the last assembly, we expect this present assembly to start work on it soon as they are expected to work with the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the private sector like us, discussing the provision of the law so that the bill can be passed as soon as possible, and I think with the seriousness shown by this administration on agriculture as a tool for economic development. The issue is taking time on agricultural policies, agriculture facilitating laws and the regulatory will be taking more seriously.

How do you think the discussions at the National Agriculture Council Meeting will make your association more effective, and do you see any prospect in the meeting?

Yes I think that there is much more prospect now than before, because the commitment of the leaders to bring change. I will say the National Agriculture Council meeting has a different approach to the previous ones held. Just as you heard the Minister of Agriculture say he will put private sector at the driver seat for agricultural development and that includes all aspects of the agricultural sector, be it input or crop production, processing, marketing, will all be operated by the private sector, leaving the government to provide facilitation rule, and not for the government to involve itself in direct production, marketing or processing. If this is done not only our members will benefit but all stakeholders, because fertilizers will be more available due to conducive environment provided to produce more, and they will have the freedom to market their products without constrain. So I think with this dispensation there is prospect.