There is a good development in the agriculture sector in Ebonyi State. It is to the effect that farmers in the state will no longer be in want of fertilizer for their farms. Then they will also continue to get that farm input at an affordable rate. That is what the new administration in the state has achieved with the revitalization of the state fertilizer company. The result is that, apart from the relief that it provides for farmers in the state, the company has started contributing to the revenue of the state.
Nkechinyere Iyioku, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, and Natural Resources made this known during a press conference in Abakaliki, the State Capital. According to the commissioner, Governor Francis Nwifuru, on the assumption of office, started policies through the State Agriculture Ministry that led to the revitalisation of the Ebonyi State Fertiliser Chemical Company. She said the state has realized a sum of N200 million within six months of bringing the company back to life.
The commissioner, however, said the aim of the state government was not just to raise revenue, but primarily to boost agriculture by helping to provide fertilizer for farmers in the state. Therefore, the state government decided to sell the fertilizer to the farmers at subsidized rates. In doing that the government also recognizes the need to keep the company running henceforth, so it decided to ensure that it could run properly. Hear the commissioner: “The Ministry made gains for the State under six months because, after the inception of office, I took practical steps in reshaping the company for success. I shut down all the known financial leakages by the introduction of non-payment of money by cash but direct payment into the company’s account. I introduced e-records in both the account section, marketing section, and in the factory, thereby enabling periodic stocktaking and audit of the company’s account.”
That was not the only reform the commissioner did. She also ensured quality control. She said, “I strengthened the tax force on fertilizer adulteration by increasing their stipend and as well, mobilised them for ease of movement to clamp down on fertiliser adulteration.” Mrs. Iyioku went further to encourage the workforce at the factory. She introduced incentives for their wellbeing and health and provided safety kits. By the time the staff got these incentives and safety kits, their performance improved as work cultured got better thereby increasing production outputs. The commissioner ensured an increase in security of the work environment “by installing solar lights and CCTV cameras in all the strategic locations of the factory”. And to ensure that what is produced gets the required market, the commissioner did not limit her incentives to the staff, she also extended it to customers to encourage them to patronize the state company.
