April 1, 2013
Niger to acquire 8000 tonnes of assorted fertiliser
Niger has completed acquisition arrangements for 8000 tonnes of assorted fertiliser which will be sold at subsidised rates to local farmers during the 2013 cropping season.
The move is intended to boost the country's agricultural production.
Alhaji Ibrahim Matane, the Commissioner for Agriculture, said that the government decided to go into direct purchase of fertiliser in order to deal with shortfall anticipated from the consignment given to farmers in the state.
Matane added that after the last season, the government had to supplement the consignment from the federal government by over 5000 tonnes of
fertiliser.
"The experience of 2012 had shown that the quantity to be received by each farmer, under the federal government's fertiliser distribution policy, will be inadequate which could lead to poor harvest in the year," said Matane.
"The Government has commenced a census of all farmers that will benefit from the sale of the fertiliser, assuring that the commodity will get to farmers at the right time and quantity."