***Calls for stronger action from CPC, SON
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has expressed concern over the influx of fake and substandard fertiliser into markets and storage facilities across the state.
AFAN Chairman, Engr. Awwalu Garba Ibrahim, made the call in Dutse after the association’s state executive council meeting, urging the Consumer Protection Committee (CPC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to intensify monitoring and enforcement.
He said the surge in fertiliser prices has created an opportunity for unscrupulous elements — including some manufacturers — to exploit farmers’ ignorance by flooding the market with counterfeit and low-grade products.
“The way these fake fertilisers are packaged makes it difficult, especially for rural farmers, to distinguish them from genuine ones,” Ibrahim warned.
He commended Governor Malam Umar Namadi’s administration for providing over 800 truckloads of subsidised fertiliser and other agricultural inputs, as well as empowering civil servants with cash and farm support.
Ibrahim also congratulated AFAN’s national leadership on its recent Appeal Court victory, describing it as a chance for unity and renewed focus on protecting farmers’ rights and improving the sector.