Edo Chemical and Fertilizer Plant Production Hits 50m Tonnes

Adobe Embryonic Since its inauguration by the Vice President YemiOsinbajo in August last year, the management of the Edo Chemical and Fertilizer Plant has produced 50 metric tonnes of fertilizer, its management has said.

It also said that the production at the plant stopped because its warehouses were filled with finished products.

The fertilizer plant was revitalised last year under the Presidential Initiative on Fertilizer ( PIF) with a view to selling the product to farmers in the country at # 5,500 per bag since it was built in 2003

Management of the plant, who took journalists on a fact finding visit tour of the plant said the plant was still operational, adding that they produce according to demand to avoid activities of middle men

The plant manager, Mr. IyereOkhun, who spoke on behalf of the management, said it was wrong for people to say the plant has stopped working when produced products have not been evacuated.

According to him, “For the few days, we were able to produce more than 30,000 bags that is about 50 metric tonnes. As at last week, we have loaded out six trucks.

“We have already got- ten orders for 11 trucks so that we can start production again. We stopped production because of space constraint. Our stores are filled.

“Now that, we are getting orders for supply, we are getting the space back and the plant will start again. What is stopping us is not lack of raw materials but space for storage. We can do 60,000 metric tons per annum.

“We are getting power 15 hours daily but we want them to give us more. As the farming season has started, we are receiving orders from farmers. We are set to load out 18 trucks within two weeks. Our plant is running but we reduced the two shifts to one interchanging them because of space.”

Also speaking, Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Agriculture, Prince Joe Okojie, said there is abundance of fertilizers for farmers in the state.

His words, “I came to see what they have in stock. We are getting our farmers ready to go to the farms. They have been are producing and storing fertilizers. I came to make sure fertilizers are available for our farmers. You can see that there is abundance of fertilizers. They will be made available as we need them. There is no doubt about the plant’s working ability.”