Plateau Signs MOU To Set Up Fertilizer Blending Plant

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Yakubu Busari

The Plateau state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Oil and Chemical International, to set up Fertilizers blending plant in Foron in Barkin Ladi local government area of the state.

The MOU was signed by the commissioner of commerce Ezekiel Daju, on behalf of the state government.

Daju made disclosure said, “This occasion is another milestone in the Governor Simon Lalong led administration”

.According to him,” As we all know most citizen of our state is farmers and Fertilizers is an essential ingredient in Agriculture to the lives of common man in the state”.

He stressed that due to the falling price of oil, the state government has keyed into diversification and our governor Simon Lalong has vowed to transform the Agriculture sector in order to boost food production and the Internally Generated Revenue IGR of the state “.

Daju maintains that “This is the beginning of good and people oriented projects that would happen under the Rescue Administration of Governor Simon Lalong”

.He lauded that” Gov Lalong is committed to delivering dividends of Democracy to the people of the state “.

“When completed it would create Job opportunities to our teeming youths and also boost food production in the state “.

Also speaking ,The Commissioner for Agriculture , Linda Barau, who also spoke at the occasion , said the promises the Gov Simon  Lalong,s administration made before coming into office is been implemented”.

She said the unique geography of the state makes the state suitable for the farming of a wide range of exotic and traditional crops for which Plateau is distinguished”

On behalf of the coy ,  the director of Operations of Oil and Chemicals international , Michael Ekoja , said Plateau ranks as one of the leading agrarian states in the country with over 60 percent of its population engaged in farming “,

He added that, Today as oil prices continue to fall and dwindle, financial allocations from the federation account to the state has not only shrunk, but remain unstable, with the grim economic reality of the Nation and state followed by the renewed commitment of the present administration to economic diversification, there is certainly no better time to tap into the huge agricultural potential of the state for sustainable and equitable development than now “.

“It is in view of this that we decided to enter into public Private Partnership with Plateau government to build and operate a blending plant that will service the growing demand for agro input in the state and boost productivity in the agricultural sector “.

According to him,” Until the fertilizer issue is solved and put behind us, there can’t be food security, poverty alleviation, industrialization, equitable prosperity, measurable growth and sustainable development “.

“It is a known fact that in spite of the large number of people employed in the agricultural sector, productively is low and the farmers are poor, to improve the status of farmers, there has to be increase in productivity and for this to be achieved, farmers must have access to critical farm inputs and support services like improved seedlings, fertilizers, crop protection products, and other improved agronomic practices “.

” Our company in collaboration with the administration of Simon  Lalong is embarking on the process for the establishment of the fertilizer plant from the scratch , our company is a member of the Duncan group of companies and for the past twenty years we have been active in Plateau , as an organisation our avowed commitment is to bring the same values and management principles which have distinguished us in our over 35 years of progressive and consolidated growth to bear on the delivery of this project.”

“The project will be implemented in partnership with our technical partners , krilax LTD London and fertilizer consultants group , India , our technical partner will manage the project for 6 months , within which they are expected to transfer skill and the management of the facility to the local team ” he further said. .

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