FEPSAN Train Farmers On Fertiliser Usage

FEPSAN Train Farmers On  Fertiliser Usage

By Joyce Onuora Abakaliki

in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural

Development (FMARD) and Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in

Ebonyi State, has organised one day training farmers programme on

application and usage of fertilizer for the purpose of yielding more crops

in the farm .

The FEPSAN Executive Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Kwa, represented by Mr

Segun Adesola who said that farmers and extension agents would be

educated and trained on fertilizer product knowledge, storage, usage,

soil testing importance and application methods.

“The farmers and extension agents would also be educated on adequate

timing for fertilizer application so that they can have adequate

knowledge of crops nutritional requirements.

Kwa remarked that the participants would also be tutored on the

nutrient contents of fertilizer products, methods of usage, right time

of application, to enhance the economics of fertilizer application.

“Farmers are afterwards, expected to record increased incomes and

improved quality of life through increased production from efficient

fertilizer usage.

He further said that the outcomes of the programs would help Nigeria

attain food security through increased production from the same land,

put into use.

“When farmers, extension agents and other stakeholders are provided

with basic fertilizer information, they will be exposed to the

product’s knowledge, usage.

The General Manager (GM) of the Ebonyi Fertilizer and Chemical Company

Limited Prof. Ogbonnaya Chukwu, who also is the Senior Special

Assistant (SSA) to the Ebonyi State Governor on Investment urged the

participants to be serious with the training

“It is important to note that every crop has the fertilizer brands

that suits as we have for instance four brands of NPK form of

fertilizer in our blending plant in Abakaliki.

“We have the 12:12:17 brand used for yam, cassava and other forms of

root crops, the 20: 10: 10 augmented with the Urea brand for rice, the

15: 15: 15 used for maize and rice and the 27: 13: 13 used also for

rice but has its urea component removed.

The Director of the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension, Mrs

Babangida Karim represented by Dr Ngozi Odunze, Deputy Director, Field

Extension Services of the department, commended FEPSAN for its efforts

in teaching farmers of all they need to know about fertilizer.