Kano Agricultural Supply Company Limited, northern Nigeria biggest fertilizer blending plant says it recorded over N150 million profits from its operational activities which include production of various brands of fertilizer as well as marketing of other agricultural inputs.
The profit was record from the N300 million invested by the administration of Governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje last year, for the turnaround of the plant, according the management of the company.
Bala Inuwa Muhammed, managing director, Kano Agricultural Supply Company made this disclosure last week Wednesday when briefing a delegation of the northern elders Forum, during a working visit to the plant as part of the group tour of projects executed by the state government.
Muhammed revealed that a total of over 500 trucks of fertilisers which represents about 30 million metric tonnes, were manufactured by the company last year, and plans are on to grow the manufacturing capability of the plant in the next few months.
He stated that the company which was established in 1981 by the regime of former governor, Abubakar Rimi through a loan from the World Bank was moribund until it was refurbished by the present administration in the state and now operating at full capacity.
“This company which was conceived 36 years ago by the administration of former governor Abubakar Rimi from a loan obtained from the World Bank, and has remained moribund before the coming of governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje is fully back to life.
“For the Governor Ganduje provided us with a working capital of N300 million to kick start operations, and initially we went into the production of NPK brand, but we have since gone into the production of other brands of fertilisers.
“Last year alone, about 500 Trucks load of fertilisers, which translates into over 30 million metric tonnes, were produced from the plant, with this we were able to sell a bag of fertilizer, at subsidized rate of N5, 500 to farmers.
“We are also able to secure improved seeds and agro-chemical inputs for onward sale to farmers at subsidized price, and I am happy to announce that last year alone we declared a profit of about N150 million” Mohammed explained.
In the same vein, the managing director further disclosed that the company has ordered for a world –class fertilizer blending plant capable of blending one truck of plant per hour, as part of it expansion plan.
“In order to meet the order given to the company by the Federal Government to blend over 100,000 million metric tonnes of fertilizer under it agriculture development programme, we have placed order for the new manufacturing line from South Africa.
“The production plant which is due to arrive in the next few months is a world class plant, and we are the first company in Nigeria, and the second after South Africa to have the plant. With this we plan to meet our goal of growing our production capability.
“So far we have sold over 400 trucks, and we are recording a weekly turn -over of about N300 million. We are also able to generate many jobs, presently we have employed over 600 workers, and we hope to increase the number by another 600 when we installed the new production line” he added.
Speaking after inspecting the plant, led of delegation, Professor Ango Abdullahi, who is a former vice-chancellor of ABU commended Governor Ganduje for the reviving the plant.
Abdullahi challenged the management of the company to sustain the current momentum so as enable Nigeria meet it current fertilizer demand of about 7 million metric tonnes per year.
Adeola Ajakaiye, Kano
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