The Jigawa state chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has raised serious concerns over the proliferation of substandard fertilisers in markets across the state, threatening agricultural productivity and food security.
AFAN's state chairman, Engr. Auwal Garba Ibrahim, disclosed this information during a press briefing following the association's state executive meeting. He emphasized the growing threat posed by these inferior agricultural inputs to farmers' livelihoods and crop yields.
"We have already engaged the Federal Competition Consumer Protection Council on this critical issue," Ibrahim stated. "The council has assured us they will implement stringent measures to identify and penalize those producing and selling these substandard products that undermine our productivity."
The AFAN chairman urged farmers across Jigawa to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities related to the sale of fake or low-quality fertilisers to both the union and relevant authorities. He warned that the circulation of such inferior products constitutes a significant threat to national food security.
"Protecting our farmers from exploitation is essential to sustaining agricultural output," Ibrahim emphasized. "With the current economic challenges and food inflation, ensuring farmers have access to quality inputs is more important than ever."
The issue comes at a critical time in the farming season when many farmers are applying fertilisers to boost crop yields. Agricultural experts note that substandard fertilisers not only waste farmers' limited resources but can also damage soil health and reduce harvests significantly.
This development highlights ongoing challenges in Nigeria's agricultural input supply chain, where regulatory oversight has struggled to prevent counterfeit and adulterated products from reaching farmers.
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