Benue pegs fertiliser price at N4, 000

Food safety key to good health, human survival - Nestle

The Benue State government has pegged this year’s fertiliser price at N4, 000 to enable farmers in the state purchase the product for their farm use with less financial stress.

State Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, James Anbua told newsmen in Makurdi that the fertiliser has already been distributed to farmers in many local government areas of the state while others are awaiting the arrival of new consignment.

Anbua disclosed that the present administration has evolved a new formula to get fertiliser for the farmers by procuring the product through contractual agreement instead of the usual practice of awarding the contract to single individuals in the past.

“We procure fertiliser on contractual agreement such that the state government pays on delivery of the consignment. The state government also pegged this year’s fertiliser price at N4, 000 without handling charges.

“It is a private sector agreement to give farmers the fertiliser at N5,750. The government is subsidising N1, 700 while the private contractor bears the brunt of N50 cost so that the farmers can get the product at N4000,” he said.

The commissioner however lamented that the delay in getting the last truck of fertiliser for onward distribution to areas yet to access the product in the state was due to the day time ban on heavy loaded trucks movement in Lagos state from where the product was being expected to arrive the state.

He said the ministry is making early adequate arrangement in order to supply the product to farmers as at when due by next year, adding that the farmers had a bad outing this year as fertilisers were not made available to them at the right time. Nestle Nigeria has stressed the need to keep foods safe to help people maintain good health as well as make them survive around miseries of life.

The CEO, Nestle Nigeria, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhorn, made the remarks during a facility tour of the company’s Maggi Plant in Agbara, Ogun state.

According to him, to have a safe food is an unavoidable choice to keep human body fit and a functional metabolism in human body system.

This he said is why Nestle has been at the forefront of making available safe and affordable foods for the Nigerian masses.

Also, the chief host, Maggi plant Agbara, Rakesh Verma, said the factory is the biggest in the country with capacity to produce over 60million cubes every day.

He said Nestle also makes drinking water as well as other products to assist Nigeria in selffood sufficiency.

Verma noted that Maggi has become a toast of favour to the world and tasty for people’s enjoyment.