SON worries over adulterated fertiliser

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged fertilizer producers and dealers to adhere to standard and expose those producing and selling adulterated fertiliser to farmers.

Malam Yunusa Muhammad, the coordinator of SON in Kano State, made the call on Thursday while meeting with fertilizer stakeholders in the state.

Muhammad said that the meeting became necessary in view of the rising cases of adulterated fertilizer in the market.

He said that SON would make sure that every farmer had good and efficient fertilizer for their farms, to boost farming and harvest output.

According to him, with the support and cooperation of the stakeholders in the sector, SON will address the recurring issues of the effect of substandard fertilizer on farm produce.

The Kano coordinator added that the organisation would also address the market proliferation of adulterated fertilizers in the state.

He urged them to adhere to relevant standard in order to increase their production and compete favourably, locally and internationally.

The coordinator, however, warned that anyone caught producing or selling adulterated fertilizers would face the penalty.

Muhammad also gave 45 days ultimatum to blenders and sellers to fish out bad eggs amongst them.

“We give them one and half month to enable them look inward and fish out bad eggs and those buying fertilizer from unrecognized and unregistered blending facilities,” he said.

He said that SON would meet with the stakeholders from time to time to enlighten them and brainstorm on the way forward.

One of the stakeholders, Alhaji Yakubu Ibrahim, promised that they would do their best to improve their products.

He also commended SON for organising the meeting and educating them on the dangers of the unwholesome practice.

Ibrahim, however, appealed to SON to increase the sensitisation and enlightenment to farmers, sellers, blenders and manufacturers on their activities.

Another stakeholder, Ahmad Abdullahi, attributed the rising cases of adulterated fertilizer to the proliferation of unregistered blending plants in the state.

He urged the Federal Government to support upcoming blending companies in the country.