In the bid to boost agriculture and ensure food security in the country, four indigenous manufacturing companies have partnered to produce fertilisers suitable for Nigerian soils. The companies – Superphosphate Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, Indorama and TAK – noted that the brands were product of successful research.
Chairman of Superphosphate Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Birma, said the collaboration aroused by the need to break away from imported fertilisers which most often than not, are not compatible with the local soils.
He said the distribution of the products had begun in the southern parts of the country where early rains have started, while those of the Middle-belt and the North commenced just recently. He added that with four million metric tons production capacity yearly, the companies would meet the country’s yearly fertiliser demand.
The company’s Managing Director, Mr. Danjuma Abdul-Kadir, noted that unlike the foreign products which he described as stereotype fertilisers, their were offerings conscientiously made in consonance with the specifications from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
“The collaboration came as a result of research and development and a lot of scientific work done by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. They came up with the type of fertilisers to be used in Nigeria and we took up the challenge to produce them.
“It is based on those recommendations from the soil test that we have marked the country into different fertiliser zones. That is why you see different brands of fertilisers being produced to meet different states’ demand,” he said.
“We have four brands of soil- specific fertilisers for the various soil topographies in Nigeria. They are 27-13-13, 20-10-10, 12-12-17 and 10-10-5,”he added.
