How to identify fake fertiliser – FEPSAN scribe

The Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) has advised crop farmers to patronise only certified fertiliser distributors to avoid buying fake fertilisers from dubious dealers. The association’s Executive Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Rabiu Kwa, gave the advice recently while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Kwa said that accredited fertiliser […]

The Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) has advised crop farmers to patronise only certified fertiliser distributors to avoid buying fake fertilisers from dubious dealers.

The association’s Executive Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Rabiu Kwa, gave the advice recently while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Kwa said that accredited fertiliser dealers were expected to have certificates from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and from FEPSAN hanging on the walls of their business premises.

“Farmers will get good quality fertiliser from certified and registered distributors across the country that are certified through registration by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and FEPSAN.

“They should have these certificates hanging on their walls and if a farmer does not see them, he should ask questions for evidence to prove their authenticity and if they are not satisfied with the answer, please, do not patronise them.

“The public should be vigilant in their communities and report any fake producer around their areas because some of them have been apprehended by security operatives,’’ he told NAN on telephone.

He said that some producers of fake fertiliser stuffed bags bearing the names of known fertiliser brands, whereas the content was fake and would not give the farmer the desired yield.

Kwa explained some of the determinants of good fertiliser to include that the granules would not crush easily on the palm even if pressure was exerted among others.

“To be able to understand quality fertiliser, you will need some technical knowledge, it is not easy to identity fake from good fertiliser.

“Generally, on sight, fake fertiliser contains ingredients that are not consistent and when held in the palm you will see that it breaks up into dust or sand.

“However, you will notice that the granules of a good fertiliser are strong and do not break by just crushing them in your hand; though a farmer still has to go to a fertiliser laboratory to determine the actual nutrient content.

“Those fake fertiliser producers only put together some debris, sand and other unwanted substances and fake the bags of known fertiliser companies.

“If a buyer is not watchful, he can buy that as fertiliser and when he applies it on the farm, at the end of the day, he will discover that it made no impact. It is, therefore, pertinent to advise that everyone be watchful,” the FEPSAN Executive Secretary said.