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Federal govt. to withdraw from fertilizer procurement next year By Tribune Published :Tuesday, April 8, 2008 AGRICULTURE and Water Resources Minister, Dr. Zayyad Abba Ruma, on Monday, disclosed that the Federal Government will, from next year, wash its hands off the procurement of fertiliser for farmers. Dr. Ruma said the Federal Government had been intervening in the procurement to stabilise the fertiliser market and make the prices affordable for farmers. The minister, in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, disclosed that fertiliser, being a key input in agricultural production, contributes over 35 per cent of increase in crop production. He said adequate and timely provision of fertiliser was critical to attaining self sufficiency in crop production. Describing the past years as transition period of government intervention, Dr. Ruma said the fertilizser market would not have been left in the hands of private people who could take undue advantage of the deregulated market. The minister said the Federal Government decided to increase the quantities of fertiliser for procurement from 500,000 metric tonnes in 2007 to 650,000 in 2008 because there was poor harvest in the 2007 season due to erratic and inclement weather condition. Food shortages, according to him, could be experienced if such policy was not taken, a situation which would necessitate increase in agricultural activity in the 2008 season and as such assure food security situation in the country. |
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