Reps Query Increase In Fertiliser Price

The House of Representatives has mandated its Standing Committee on Agricultural Production and Service to undertake an investigative oversight on the geometric increase in the fertiliser price in the country and report back to the House in four weeks.

The House noted that fertiliser is one of the core agricultural inputs depended upon by farmers for an increased yield globally and Nigeria in particular.

The lawmakers further pointed out that the immediate past government changed the face of fertiliser distribution in Nigeria through the introduction of the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) whereby each farmer is on contact with the e-Wallet with the involvement of the organised labour.

They added that GES metamorphosed into greater output from agricultural sector as fertiliser were available and affordably sold for between N3,000 and N3,500 only.

They therefore expressed worry that the once available agricultural input at affordable price has now become unavailable and unaffordable to the farmers to the extent that a 50kg bag of Ureir fertiliser now goes for around N7,800, while that of NPK 15-15-15 sells for around N9,000.