The Ebonyi State Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited has strengthened measures to protect farmers from adulterated fertilizer, counterfeiting and diversion of government-supplied agricultural inputs.
The company’s Task Force Unit, comprising staff of the company, members of its Board, representatives of agro-dealers and security personnel, is responsible for surveillance, monitoring and enforcement aimed at protecting the integrity of the state’s fertilizer products.
The Task Force conducts surveillance across major locations where fertilizers are sold and works with informants stationed at strategic locations to identify cases of adulteration, counterfeiting and unauthorized sale of the company’s products.
Offenders identified through the monitoring activities are apprehended, while members of the public are also sensitised on how to distinguish genuine Ebonyi fertilizer products from counterfeit ones.
A major feature of the company’s monitoring system is the colour coding of its 20-10-10 fertilizer bags.
The green-bagged 20-10-10 fertilizer is supplied by the Ebonyi State Government for distribution to farmers free of charge as part of its agricultural support programme.
On the other hand, the white-bagged 20-10-10 fertilizer is the commercial product meant for sale through agro-dealers and the open market.
According to the company, the quality and quantity of the fertilizer in both bags are the same, while the different colours serve primarily as an accountability and tracking mechanism.
The company has therefore warned that the sighting of green-bagged Ebonyi fertilizer being offered for sale should be treated as a red flag, as the product is intended for free distribution to farmers under the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
The colour-coding system is designed to help the government track its agricultural interventions, prevent diversion and ensure that farmers receive the inputs intended to support their production.
The fight against adulteration and diversion is considered crucial to the success of the state’s agricultural programme, as diverted or counterfeit fertilizer can deny farmers the support required to improve their yields, while fake products can also damage the reputation of genuine Ebonyi fertilizer.
The activities of the Task Force therefore extend beyond enforcement, as they are aimed at protecting farmers, public resources and the integrity of the state government’s agricultural interventions.
The development is part of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s practical approach to agriculture, which places emphasis not only on fertilizer production and distribution but also on monitoring, accountability and enforcement.
The initiative is being implemented under the supervision of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Princess Mrs. Nkechinyere Iyioku, and the Director-General of the Ebonyi State Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited, Dr. Sunday Nwangele.
The message to farmers and members of the public remains clear: Green bag means government supply and is not for sale, while the white bag is the commercial product intended for sale.
Farmers are therefore encouraged to know the difference, report suspected diversion or counterfeiting and help protect the integrity of the state’s agricultural intervention programme.
