Abuja: The Coalition of Farmers Association of Nigeria (COFAN) and the Himma Youth Farmers Association of Nigeria (HYFAN) have urged the Federal Government to sustain the importation of fertiliser raw materials. They emphasized that this should continue until local production capacity is assured.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr Abubakar Bamai, COFAN President, made this appeal during a news conference jointly organized by the two associations. The event centered on the ‘Restructuring of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) and Its Effect on Nigerian Farmers’.
Dr Bamai stressed the importance of ongoing importation to prevent any disruption in fertiliser supply, which could adversely affect smallholder farmers. He warned against any potential ban on raw material importation, as it might lead to monopolization by private blenders, thereby increasing prices to unaffordable levels for many farmers.
He praised President Bola Tinubu for his reforms and initiatives aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s food systems, which demonstrate a commitment to empowering farmers, involving youth, and securing food supply. However, he expressed concerns about the restructuring of the PFI, which could negatively impact smallholder and youth farmers due to rising input costs and distribution issues.
Dr Bamai reflected on the successes of the PFI under former President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that it was crucial in providing affordable fertiliser and supporting local blending plants, which significantly boosted food production and security. He urged the government to continue involving the Ministry of Finance in managing raw material importation to maintain efficiency and transparency.
He reiterated the commitment of COFAN and HYFAN to collaborate with government, private sector, and development partners to ensure that the PFI restructuring supports farmers and enhances national food security.