The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged fertilizer producers and dealers to adhere to Standards set by the organisation in their plants.
Malam Yunusa Muhammad, the coordinator of SON in Kano, made the call in Kano on Thursday while meeting with Fertilizer stakeholders in the state.
Muhammad said that the meeting became necessary in view of the rising cases of adulterated fertilizers in the market.
He said that SON would make sure that every farmer had good and efficient fertilizer for their farms, to boost farming harvest and output.
According to him, with the support and cooperation of the stakeholders in the sector, SON will address the recurring issues of the effect of substandard fertilizers on farm produce.
The Kano coordinator added that the organisation would also address the market proliferation of adulterated fertilizers in the state.
He urged them to adhere to the relevant standard in order to increase their production and compete favourably, locally and internationally.
The coordinator, however, warned that anyone caught producing or merchandising adulterated fertilizers would face the penalty.
Muhammad also gave 45 days ultimatum to blenders and sellers to fish out bad eggs amongst them.
“We give them one and half month to enable them look inward and fish out bad eggs and those buying fertilizer from unrecognized and unregistered blending facilities,” he said.
He said that SON would meet the stakeholders from time to time to enlighten them and brainstorm on the way forward.
One of the stakeholders, Alhaji Yakubu Ibrahim, promised that they would do their best to improve their products.
He also commended SON for organising the meeting and for educating them on the dangers of the unwholesome practice.
Ibrahim, however, appealed to SON to increase the sensitisation and enlightenment to farmers, sellers, blenders and manufacturers on their activities.
Another stakeholder, Ahmad Abdullahi, attributed the rising cases of adulterated fertilizer to the proliferation of blending plants in the state.
He urged the Federal Government to support upcoming blending companies in the country.
