Buhari approves N22bn for farmers, endorses slash of fertiliser cost
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- President Muhammadu
Buhari has approved the payment of the outstanding N22bn for dealers of
agricultural inputs, popularly known as agro-dealers
-
The approval will ensure seamless distribution of fertilisers at an
approved rate of N5, 500 for 50kg which he has also endorsed
-
The presidency had detailed the policy on agriculture in February,
stating that the administration’s efforts on fertilizer availability and
accessibility was working
President
Muhammadu Buhari has approved the payment of the outstanding N22bn for
dealers of agricultural inputs, popularly known as agro-dealers.
President Muhammadu Buhari
This is to ensure seamless distribution of fertilisers at an approved rate of N5, 500 for 50kg which he has also endorsed.
READ ALSO: Fertiliser companies in the country have the capacity to produce 1m tonnes - Presidential committee
It
was gathered that the presidency had detailed the policy on agriculture
in February, stating that the administration’s efforts on fertilizer
availability and accessibility was working.
The policy was drawn after farmers complained that a 50kg bag of fertilizer was selling for N10, 000 to N12, 000.
Speaking
on Wednesday March 15, the National Chairman, Agro-dealers Association
of Nigeria, Mr Kabiru Fara, told journalists that Buhari approved the
payment of the balance of N22bn that was owed the agro-dealers by the
previous government to ease their challenges.
He said:
“The presidential initiative on fertiliser distribution is too
important. We are happy with it because it will help the farmers get
inputs at affordable prices and we are the ones who serve as a link
between the farmer and the supplier.
“However,
our bankers and suppliers are not happy in dealing with us for now,
because we have their money hanging, as well as some of our money that
are still not paid.
“This liability was not incurred by the
present administration, but we are happy that they have agreed to pay.
We understand that Mr. President has approved expressly that the
liability be paid.
“The total amount is
about N62bn, a first payment of N20bn was made, another payment of N20bn
followed, which was about a year ago, and the balance now is N22bn,
which the President has approved that it be paid to agro-dealers
expressly. We are grateful for that.”
He
stated that agro-dealers would use part of the money to make purchases
as well as distribute the commodity, and urged the Federal Government to
ensure the speedy release of the funds.
Fara added: “We will use this payment to buy what fertiliser producers produce and distribute it across the market at N5, 500.
“So,
releasing our money will make the presidential initiative on fertiliser
distribution easy but without that payment, which we don’t know why, it
will be difficult for some of our members to buy and distribute.
Government official distributing bags of fertiliser to farmers
“You may have pockets of agro-dealers
who have money to buy, but the product will not come as fast as needed
in order to ensure availability and the prices may not be as affordable
as expected.
“Our recommendation is that
the presidential initiative team should look at the issues of logistics
and factor how fertilisers are to be delivered to centres where they
are needed at N5,000 per bag.
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“For
they say agro-dealers’ money should be N500, but when you check the
distances to transport the commodity, N500 won’t be enough in many
instances.
“So, we want the government
to look at ways of getting the product to any location in Nigeria at a
fixed price, whether at N5,000 or a little above that so that it can be
sold at the approved price of N5,500 per bag.”
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