By GABRIEL EWEPU

ABUJA — THE federal government had debunked claims made by some farmers under the Growth Enhancement Support scheme, GES, for being supplied with adulterated fertilisers.

This denial was made by the Director, Fertiliser Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Department, Dr. Akinbolawa Osho, while flagging off the 2014 fertiliser distribution for 2014 wet season farming in Abuja at the week weekend.

Some farmers had alleged that the fertiliser bags they received after paying N2, 750 were found to be filled with sand particles and other substances with little of fertiliser mixed with it, therefore accused the federal government of being double standard.

In responding to the grave allegation levelled against the government, Osho said fertilisers released to farmers were not directly from the ministry as being claimed by the farmers since the government had stopped its participation in fertiliser distribution.

Osho said: “All fertilisers supplied to farmers under the Growth Enhancement Support, GES, were wholesome and this is being monitored by the government to ensure that farmers across the country gets the best of fertiliser and improved seeds to boost food production.

“I don’t know about the purported supply of adulterated fertiliser to our esteemed farmers, the supply had been contracted out to the private sector, and farmers receives alert on their phones to get their fertiliser bags at a subsidised rate at various redemption centres.

“We are also working hard to increase the number of redemption centres for the sake of farmers’ proximity to them and easy collection of farm inputs. We will continue to ensure that farmers get improved seeds, which we will make it more competitive among seed companies.”