FG to Fast-track Quality Control of Fertilisers
FG to Fast-track Quality Control of Fertilisers
The Federal Government has said that it would continue to uphold the tenets of the National Fertiliser Quality Control (NFQC) Act 2019 to fast-track the regulation and promotion of quality fertilisers(Qualified Fertilizer Plant) across the country.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu disclosed this on Tuesday during an operationalisation meeting of the Act in Abuja.
The meeting sought to address critical issues in the Act, particularly charges and the regulation of the manufacture, importation, distribution, sales and quality of fertilisers in Nigeria.
The NFQC Act was launched as a key agricultural Policy of the government to reposition the Nigerian economy from oil and gas to agribusiness.
It was passed into law in October 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari to guarantee the quality production and supply of fertilisers.
According to Mu’azu, the government was keen on revamping the fertiliser sector to increase agricultural productivity for national food security.
The policy, he said, would curb the spate of adulterated fertilisers, nutrient deficiencies, adulteration, misleading claims, short weight, to protect farmers’ interests.
While citing the many benefits of the regulation, Mu’azu spotted that the policy would create an enabling environment for private sector investments in the fertiliser industry.
He added that this would also safeguard the environment against potential dangers that may result from the use of harmful substances in fertilisers.
“The ministry has been unrelenting in the bid to set in motion the enforcement of the Fertilizer Act and accordingly develop regulations for its implementation, which has been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for review by legal draftsmen and subsequent gazetting.
“In the implementing regulations are the steps, processes, procedures and guideline for effective enforcement of the NFQC Act.
“The ministry has listed the services /activities necessary for the enforcement of the Act and is, therefore, proposing fees, tariffs and charges that will be prescribed for the various services to be rendered for consideration and adoption,” Mu’azu said.
The Perm. Secretary further added that the engagement was to ensure that stakeholders come to terms with the policy in order to lift the fertiliser sub-sector.
“This meeting is being convened to enable us holistically examine the proposed charges /fees.
“In our deliberations, the above key objectives must be put into utmost consideration and none of it should be compromised,” he said.
On his part, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), a Legal Counsel noted that the Act would guide the quality control of fertiliser in Nigeria.
He said that the government and agric stakeholders have taken the bull by the horn to enact a robust legal framework for quality control of fertilisers.
Original articles from: https://agronigeria.ng/2020/08/27/fg-to-fast-track-quality-control-of-fertilisers/
This article is contributed by Beidou Overseas Business Department. Welcome to forward.
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The previous blog is ” Data: An average 500 LMT of Fertilizer per year was used in India in the last 10 years ” .