Soluble fertilizer : Nigeria losing out in over $20b business

The Federal Government (FG) ban on soluble fertilizer is causing green house farmers to lose out in about $5.8 billion market business as at 2019, and bind to increase to $20.64 billion by 2027 if speedy action is not taken, said the National Coordinator, HortiNigeria project, Abdullahi Umar.

Speaking with Foodfarmnews in an exclusive interview, Umar said that FG needs to take action that would enable the greenhouse farmers to bring in their soluble fertilizers towards enhancing market productivity competitiveness of horticultural related crops of $20.64 billion as projected towards 2027.

HortiNigeria Coordinator  pointed that the FG ban on fertilizers need to exclude soluble variety being its usefulness to higher productivity of greenhouse farmers, adding that his project would ensure that the ban is lifted to increase market opportunity for producers in a standard practice.

He emphasized that soluble fertilizer should be exempted from the general ban, and greenhouse owners should be allowed to import in a well restricted manner so as to reduce their cost of production.

HortiNigeria project will convince government to allow greenhouse producers to bring in soluble fertilizer under strict procedure, just as local producers of liquid urea would be encouraged to produce soluble fertilizer locally to finally checkmate imports.

The project coordinator stressed that effort towards getting accurate numbers of greenhouse producers in the country is ongoing to convince the government about the huge market potentials as well as what the country would be missing if proactive action is not taken, adding that " we hope by the end of March we will be able to provide that number and definitely be able to have a document on our side as evidence to decide" 

Responding, the government representative from the Nigerian Custom Services, Mr. Mu'azu Murtala said that the restrictions on fertilizers has affected the country, saying the FG executive ban was due to security reasons.

The officer pointed out that fertilizers were a serious challenge in view of insecurity confronting the country, adding that the elements in making fertilizers are also used in bomb making.