Indorama to produce 750,000MT urea fertiliser for 2018 farming season

In line with the Presidential directive for making fertiliser available and affordable for the average Nigerian farmer, Indorama Eleme Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited, a major producer of urea fertilisers in the country have confirmed their plan of increasing urea fertiliser production to 750, 000MT this coming farming season.  The company’s head of sales and marketing, […]

In line with the Presidential directive for making fertiliser available and affordable for the average Nigerian farmer, Indorama Eleme Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited, a major producer of urea fertilisers in the country have confirmed their plan of increasing urea fertiliser production to 750, 000MT this coming farming season. 

The company’s head of sales and marketing, Dr S K Srivastava, in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust, said the company was also in agreement with the federal government under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) for the supply of urea for production of NPK (20:10:10) fertilisers.

“Yes, this year also we have an agreement with the FG under the PFI and we are most likely starting the supply of urea from this month,” he said. 

The head of sales and marketing also noted that there would be a boost in the amount of urea the company intends to supply the Federal Government, from 180, 000MT supplied last year to 360, 000MT this year for the production of NPK (20:10:10) fertilisers.

Dr Srivastava commended the FG for the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative because farmers have reasonable monetary savings on the farming input.

“Remember the price of NPK was more than N7, 000, N8, 000 like that, but under this scheme farmers received this NPK at N5, 500 so there’s good amount of savings in terms of money,” he stated.

He pointed out that the company has a well-established distribution channel across the country comprising of both domestic off-takers otherwise known as wholesalers and retailers.

“In Nigeria we have different channels of distribution network and we have our distributors, they are domestic off-takers, about 4, 500 domestic off-takers and about 250 agro-dealers,

“We supply urea to large commercial farms, and also involved in the distribution process of the state governments to their distribution channels,” he added.

Dr Srivastava asserted that for this coming year, the company is committed to reaching out more aggressively in terms of their approach to make urea fertiliser available in Nigeria for increased food production.

Meanwhile, the company’s Chief Agronomist, Dr Balbir Singh, explained that Indorama supplies an average of 3, 000MT of urea, which is about 100 trucks daily, he however added that the company has the capacity to supply up to 5, 000MT every day to via their distribution network.

In addition, Dr Balbir disclosed that farmers, agro-dealers and retailers were preparing to stock their warehouses for use in the wet season. 

On fertiliser application education, he affirmed that Indorama had developed crop management practices and conducts free demonstrations for farmers.

“This year we are conducting approximately 450 free demonstrations across Nigeria, we have very big agronomist team of 60 agronomists, we have on ground in every big potential agricultural area,” he said.

Again, Singh added that their animation film and documentary film shows farmers the appropriate time of application, how to apply, the specific crop spacing, and also teach farmers on best methods of fertiliser application.

Singh said “In Nigeria, most farmers apply NPK by broadcasting, when it comes to this only Nitrogen is being used P & K is getting wasted so we are saying if you’re going to apply NPK apply it basal so that you have maximum utilisation of fertiliser.”

He stressed the company’s commitment on farmers training, noting that in 2016, they trained nearly 200, 000 farmers, which they plan on increasing to 330, 000 farmers this year.

Similarly, he revealed that the company also plans on training farmers on climate change adaptation strategies and agribusiness as well, in addition to ways they can get better yield and income from their produce, when to store, how to store, when to supply and whom to supply.

Dr Balbir maintained that all Indorama agronomists have soil testing kits and offer free soil testing for farmers who bring their soil samples. 

He also said every agronomist has a projector which he/ she could use to show farmers some movies or pictorial presentations.

According to the head of sales and marketing, Dr S K Srivastava, the company also offers free training to its traders, agro-dealers and retailers because they are change agents and farmers come to them first for advice.

Singh blamed the very low levels of fertiliser consumption, wrong timing of application as part of the reasons for relatively low yield levels farmers get in the country.