Scarcity Of Feriliser Hits Abia

Four months into 2011 planting season, farmers in Abia have yet to access fertiliser for their crops, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Abia Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Joseph Ogwo, had told NAN that the state government had started the distribution of fertiliser to farmers across the state.

However, Chief Dunlop Okoro, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), told NAN in Umuahia on Wednesday that the body was not aware of such a development.

“The Commissioner has announced that they are distributing fertiliser to farmers and I hope that we will get our own,” Okoro said.

He said that the state government might have decided to use the local government channels to reach the farmers.

He said that AFAN had made it clear to the state government that it had its channel of distribution to farmers.

Okoro further said that the distribution of fertiliser was long overdue, stressing that the ideal period for the exercise was between January and February yearly.

He said that even if the Federal Government was not forthcoming in fertiliser procurement, the state ought to make internal arrangements to provide the essential commodity to farmers.

The AFAN chairman expressed fear that the non-availability of fertiliser could affect yields in the current farming season.

“Our people depend so much on fertiliser and some parts of the state cannot do without it.

“If the fertiliser is not provided in good time, there will be a downward trend in yields,” Okoro said.

Meanwhile, NAN reports that some members of staff of the state Ministries of Agriculture and Poverty Reduction were seen taking delivery of some fertiliser consignment from a warehouse close to the office of the commissioner.

One of the recipients who pleaded anonymity told NAN that the allocation was for their staff and that the commodity was sold to them at N3,100 per bag.

“Maybe they want to give us first before others,” the source suggested.