Indigenous firms to produce soil-specified fertiliser

Some indigenous companies: Superphosphate Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, Indorama and TAK  have collaborated to roll out soil specified fertilizer brands for Nigerian soils as part of efforts to boost agricultural produce and ensure food security in Nigeria.
Four brands of soils specific fertilizers for the various soil topographies in Nigeria have been identified by the collaborating companies.
Speaking to newsmen on a facility tour of their plants in Kaduna yesterday, Chairman of the Superphosphate Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Birma said the collaboration of the companies was informed by the need to break away from imported fertilizers, most of which are not suitable for Nigeria’s soils.
He said, “The distribution of the products had since started in the southern parts of the country, which experienced early rainfall, while that of the middle-belt and north have equally commenced just recently and with 4million metric tons production capacity per annum, the companies will meet the country’s annual fertilizer demand.”
Speaking on the significance of the collaboration to food security, the Managing Director of Superphosphate Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, Mr. Danjuma Abdul-Kadir, said that, unlike the imported fertilizers, which he described as stereotype fertilizers and not meant for Nigeria’s soils, the products of the collaborating companies were made in line with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s specifications.
He added, “The collaboration came as a result of research and development and a lot of scientific works done by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. They came up with the type of fertilizers to be used in Nigeria and we took up the challenge to produce them.”