FG approves new variety of fertiliser in GES

The federal government has approved a new variety of fertiliser known as Urea Super Granules (USG) for distribution under the Growth Enhancement Support, GES, to expand the scheme and boost food production in the country.
The USG fertilisers will serve as one of the agro-inputs to be distributed in Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Niger and Sokoto States on a pilot base.

According to director, Federal Fertiliser Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. AkinbolawaOsho, explained that the introduction of the input into GES will increase the robustness of the scheme as well as develop a new input supply chain that will create jobs for various actors.
Adding that, the project aims to deliver about 12,000 metric tonnes of USG to over 300,000 recipient farmers at a 50 per cent subsidy rate from both federal and state governments.

The criteria for the collection of the USG fertilisers will be each farmer to receive 40 kg of fertilisers, in addition to two 50kg bags of NPK and improved seeds during the upcoming dry season under the GES at an approved subsidy rate.
However, a source from International Fertiliser Development Centre, IFDC, Nigeria, said United State Agency of International Development-Maximizing Agricultural Revenue in Key Enterprises and Targeted Sites II, (USAID-MARKETS II) project was partnering with the federal government to increase awareness and develop a robust market demand for the Urea Deep Placement, UDP, technology amongst smallholder farmers.

Since the inception of the project in 2012, about 200,000 farmers have been trained on the UDP technology. This partnership will cause a monumental increase in farmers trained, because targeted farmers will receive training from USAID-MARKETS II project in the various redemption centres across the five states under the pilot scheme.
The USG fertiliser is a component of UDP technology introduced in Nigeria by IFDC but currently being promoted by USAID-MARKETS II project. The UDP technology is a one-time application of urea (briquettes) 5-7cm deep into the soil in between four transplanted rice stands.

This technology which is mainly practiced under irrigated system enables farmers to minimise production costs, use less quantity of fertiliser, increase yield and reduces runoff and volatilization rate of urea. The urea briquettes are produced using briquetting machines.