An agricult u r a l research institute, HarvestPlus, has tasked the Federal Government to focus on creating enabling environment, and not only the production of locally made fertilizer to solve the problem of food deficit in the country.
HarvestPlus Country Manager, Nigeria, Mr. Paul Ilona, while praising government’s feat of producing 4,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, emphasised that the quantity was small, when compared to the quantity needed to boost food production in the country.
To him, if government has locally produced 4,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, the question should be, what is the estimate of the demand, or the need for fertilizers in Nigeria, so as to get the percentage of that need the current supply will address? He said, “Government should provide an enabling environment that would boost agriculture production, especially against the backdrop of the soil fertility rate in the country, which has been on the decline over the years, due to poor soil use and its exposure to unnecessary climatic conditions.
The governments must take proactive steps to educate Nigerians on the need to protect their environment, if it is determined to tackle food deficit.
“In other climes, good soil management helps farmers use soil effectively for many years compared to what Nigerian farmers experience. Providing fertilizers in Nigeria is only a part of the equation while educating operators (farmers) on how to manage soil more effectively is another component that will boost food production sustainably.”
