Agric Ministry to ensure fertilizers meet quality standards

The Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has vowed to ensure that fertilizers sold to farmers meet quality standards.

An inspection manual had already been developed for the purpose and would become fully operational next month.

The PPRSD, with support from the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has organized a two-day validation workshop on the manual in Kumasi.

It brought together farmers, importers, manufacturers, inspectors, distributors and retailers of fertilizers.

The workshop also create awareness on the Fertilizer Act, 2010 (Act 803).

Mr Vesper Suglo, Director of the PPRSD, said the unit would meticulously  regulate and control the manufacture, importation and distribution of fertilizers.

This would help to remove fake and poor quality ones from the market to assure the nation of food safety and security.

He expressed concern about the present situation where the market was flooded with fertilizers of unknown origin and quality.

The PPRSD Director said fertilizers should be sold on the basis of guaranteed nutrient composition, determined by various proven analytical methods.

“It is important for an inspector to have a good understanding of the principles and procedures involved in collecting samples and that is what the manual will seek to do”, he added.

Mrs Felicia Ansah-Amprofi, Head of the Pesticide and Fertilizer Regulatory Division (PFRD) of the PPRSD, said fertilizers and pesticides must be correctly applied to save the soil and ensure the wholesomeness of the crop.

Source: GNA