Latest news with #fertiliser
Zawya
10 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria's Dangote aims to end Africa's fertiliser imports
Africa will be self-sufficient in fertiliser within 40 months, Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote said on Friday, on the basis of a planned expansion of his $2.5 billion plant on the outskirts of Lagos. Africa currently imports over 6 million metric tons of fertiliser annually as it struggles to produce enough food in often challenging growing conditions. The benefits of increasing domestic production would include reduced foreign exchange expenditure, which has been a major economic burden in Nigeria because of the weakness of the local currency. "In the next 40 months, Africa will not import fertiliser from anywhere. We have a very aggressive trajectory right now. We want to put Dangote to be the highest producer of urea, bigger and higher than Qatar - give me 40 months," Dangote said at the annual Afreximbank meeting in Abuja. Dangote runs Africa's largest granulated urea complex, which has annual capacity of 3 million tons, 37% of which it exports to the United States. It will need to double current output to achieve his ambition. Dangote has said he is not worried about the impact of Trump tariffs. Analysts say the market outlook for fertiliser is bullish, but there are also challenges and the kind of expansion Dangote seeks requires infrastructure to be built. "Any new fertiliser plant or expansion project faces cost overrun risks to the producer," Seth Goldstein, senior equity analyst at Morningstar Research, said. Mikolah Judson, an analyst at global risk consultancy, Control Risk, cited the need for "transport infrastructure and port capacity," saying "bottlenecks routinely delay various import and export projects in Nigeria". Dangote has a track record for delivering big projects. He also owns the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Africa's largest, although its launch was repeatedly delayed and it exceeded its initial budget. He has said he intends to list the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery next year and on Friday he also confirmed plans to list his fertiliser plant on the local stock exchange this year.
Zawya
11 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria: Gombe govt flags off 2025 farming season, rolls out subsidised fertilisers
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, on Thursday, flagged off the 2025 farming season with the sales and distribution of the subsidised fertilisers. Inuwa Yahaya announced the procurement of 10,000 tonnes of the input to be sold to farmers at a subsidised rate, in a major step aimed at strengthening agricultural productivity in the state. He said that the quantity represents over twice the volume distributed during the 2024 wet season, which he said is part of a sustained efforts to scale up support for farmers and reinforce the position of Gombe in Nigeria's food security drive. The Governor also stressed that the intervention is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda, which recognises agriculture as a vital pillar for inclusive economic development. He noted that over 80% of the population in Gombe state are engaged in farming, and that over the past six years, his government has consistently subsidized farm inputs to support farmers. 'For the 2025 wet farming season, we have procured 10,000 metric tons (200,000 bags) of NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser at the cost of N44,000 per bag but will be sold to farmers at a subsidised rate of N27,000. 'This gesture underscores our commitment to making agriculture affordable, accessible, and productive. 'As we are all aware, timely access to agricultural inputs is crucial to enhancing agricultural productivity. In this regard, today's flag-off of the sales of fertilisers to the farmers testifies to our commitment to ensuring timely and affordable access to agricultural inputs for farmers,' he said. Inuwa pointed out several initiatives undertaken to revamp the agricultural landscape in Gombe State which include strategic partnerships with the Federal Government, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank through various projects such as the Sasakawa African Association, NG-CARES, L-PRES, RAAMP, and ACReSAL– all of which have improved productivity and enhanced food security. He also cited the ongoing Agro-Livestock Development Zone project comprising an international livestock and grains market, commercial abattoir, and an inland dry port, along with the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, where Premier Seeds Nigeria Limited has commenced operations with a seed-processing facility as part of ongoing efforts to actualizing his administration's desire of positioning Gombe as regional centre of agro-based commerce in the North-east subregion. The Governor directed the Ministry of Agriculture, security agencies, and civil society organizations to monitor the distribution process and ensure the fertilizer reaches the intended beneficiaries up to unit level. He said, 'I would like to assure you that we shall ensure that the fertiliser reaches the grassroots by strengthening the fertiliser sales monitoring system. 'I have directed the Ministry of Agriculture, security agencies, and civil society organizations to closely monitor the sales and distribution to the farmers so as to prevent against diversion and ensure that the fertilizer reaches the correct beneficiaries.' He urged farmers to make good use of these inputs and to remain vigilant against natural hazards by adhering to weather advisories for the 2025 farming season. The Governor also called for peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders, emphasising the need to respect grazing reserves and farmlands, while reiterating his administration's support for the Farmers/Herders Prevention and Settlement of Disputes Committees and security agencies to prevent conflict and maintain peace across the state. However, the Governor has again warned traditional rulers against involvement in cases of encroachment on cattle routes and grazing reserves, which is fueling the crisis between farmers and herders in the state, vowing that anyone found culpable in the reports of the Farmers/Herders Prevention and Dispute Settlement Committees will face stringent punishment based on the recommendations of the committees. In a goodwill message, the Acting State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Absalom Akwaras Lansibol, commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his vision and commitment to agricultural growth. He said, 'The Governor's steadfast commitment to agricultural transformation in Gombe is inspiring. Today marks another milestone in our effort to secure livelihoods and ensure food security. I encourage continued collaboration for the success of this fertiliser distribution exercise.' He reaffirmed the Federal Government's support for the initiatives of Governor Inuwa Yahaya in the agricultural sector, urging all stakeholders to align with the transformative vision for national agricultural prosperity. Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Dr. Barnabas M. Malle, expressed gratitude to the Governor for sustaining his support to farmers despite the economic challenges, stating that the Governor's resilience has made it possible for the government to procure farm inputs and distribute same to farmers at a lower rate at a time when many doubted it could happen.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
No injuries after tractor overturns on A259 in Angmering
There were no injuries after a tractor carrying fertiliser overturned in West Sussex on Tuesday, police have 21:00 BST Sussex Police responded to a report that the tractor had overturned on the A259 Roundstone Bypass in road was closed in both directions while the chemical was cleared from the scene, Sussex Police said. By 04:30 the road was fully reopened.
Zawya
04-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tunisia: Small Cabinet meeting focuses on preparations for 2025-2026 agricultural season
Tunis - A small Cabinet meeting was held on Tuesday at the Government Palace in Kasbah, chaired by Prime Minister Sara Zaafrani Zenzri, to review preparations for the 2025-2026 agricultural season and ensure optimal conditions for its successful launch. It was decided in this regard to accelerate fertiliser stockpiling to fully cover the needs of the 2025-2026 season while maintaining current chemical fertiliser prices. This falls within the state's social role to help farmers acquire supplies at reasonable prices and control production costs. This is besides streamlining financing procedures for all the 2025-2026 agricultural season-related activities, while ensuring adequate energy supply for chemical fertiliser storage centres, their safety, and equitable distribution in the domestic market. The Cabinet also decided, according to a Prime Ministry statement to organise a training session in June 2025 by the Sectoral Centre for Transport and Logistics Training in Borj Cedria (under the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training) for hazardous materials truck drivers. This training is mandatory under Law No. 37 of 1997 (June 2, 1997) concerning hazardous material road transport, which prohibits ammonia transport without proper certification. It was also decided to immediately implement the 'Engrais' digital platform to modernise agricultural sector monitoring, enabling end-to-end tracking of fertiliser distribution from producer to final consumer, while ensuring all stakeholders have access. During this meeting, the latest agricultural indicators and the results of the previous season were discussed, evaluated and analysed. The preparations for the 2025–26 season were also presented, focusing on the challenges facing the agricultural sector and how to invest in it. The most important data related to the progress of preparations for this season at all levels was also presented. In this context, plans for supplying chemical fertilisers were presented. After assessing the local market supply during the 2024–25 agricultural season and defining the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries' fertiliser needs for the 2025–26 season, the meeting focused on the technical and logistical preparations underway to supply the market during this season and to meet the demand for chemical fertilisers, such as agricultural ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate and triple superphosphate. This is being coordinated with the Tunisian Chemical Group, the producer of these materials, to ensure farmers have access to the necessary production inputs. At the end of the meeting, the Prime Minister urged ministers to coordinate their efforts more closely with regional and local structures, as well as with all stakeholders in the agricultural and industrial sectors, in order to double production and build up strategic stockpiles of chemical fertilisers. She emphasised the importance of ensuring that all safety conditions are met and all preventive measures are taken. She also underscored the need to intensify efforts to ensure the success of interventions at all levels, maintain constant communication with farmers, launch awareness campaigns to benefit them, and provide everything necessary for the 2025–26 agricultural season to run smoothly. © Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The Sun
01-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
The essential gardening task you need to do to make your hanging baskets flower and last all summer
IF you've recently been to a garden centre and bought yourself a gorgeous hanging basket, you'll need to listen up. Many of us will have hanging baskets outside our homes, but if a very crucial gardening task is avoided, they will not survive the summer. 3 3 3 So if you want to ensure your baskets look beautiful all summer long, you've come to the right place and will need to take notes. According to gardening experts Jim and Mary Competti at This Is My Garden, many hanging baskets will experience foliage fading and scarce blooms during hot weather. They warned: "Unfortunately, most baskets that are purchased or planted in the early spring don't make it past mid-summer. 'In fact, sadly, some don't even make it to late spring without their foliage fading, and their once plentiful blooms becoming more scarce with each passing day." And it turns out that keeping hanging baskets in bloom is a mean feat if you're unequipped with the right advice and tools. As a result, the gardening maestros stressed that gardening enthusiasts "need to fertilise" hanging baskets to keep newly planted baskets flowering. However, fertilising hanging baskets is not a one-time task, but rather one that should be done regularly. Hanging basket plants have restricted soil available for energy absorption and cannot spread out to seek additional nutrients, which makes this process incredibly vital. Subsequently, Jim and Mary warned that without fertiliser, hanging baskets "simply will not be able to survive the entire summer". And it turns out that timing is essential when it comes to feeding. Cheap ways to bring vibrant colours to your garden all year round Unlike roses, which can be fed just a few times a year, plants grown in hanging baskets need a slow and steady stream of nutrients. Therefore, adding too much too quickly can encourage the roots and foliage to expand too fast, as the gardening pros recognised: "The result will be a plant that outgrows its basket and stops blooming because of it.' Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs *If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO shared the tasks to crack on with as Spring arrives. 1. Clean your garden Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. Gtech's Garden Safety Kit includes durable gardening gloves and safety glasses; perfect for comfortability whilst tackling those outdoor tasks. 2. Weeding Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round. 3. Hedge maintenance Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the Gtech Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can help to keep your greenery looking sharp and neat. 4. Composting Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage. 5. Look after your lawn Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely. So if you want your hanging baskets to impress this summer, you should opt for a liquid fertiliser that contains more phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen. While nitrogen promotes growth, phosphorus and potassium are essential for blooming. Unfortunately, most baskets that are purchased or planted in the early spring don't make it past mid-summer Jim and Mary Competti, at This Is My Garden Not only this, but a light dose of fertiliser should be applied to your baskets every 10 to 14 days for best results. Additionally, West Coast Gardeners recommended a 15-30-15 water-soluble fertiliser with micro-nutrients. They explained: "You can either use it every second watering at full strength, or use it every time you water, but at half strength." 8 must-have plants to brighten up your garden Nick Hamilton owner of Barnsdale Gardens has shared his favourite plants and flowers you should consider adding to your garden, borders and pots. Tricyrtis A spectacular plant that gives a real exotic feel to any garden with its orchid-like, spotted flowers giving the impression that this plant should be tender but it is 'as tough as old boots!'. Penstemon I love this plants genus of because most will flower all summer and autumn. They'll grow in sun or semi-shade in a well drained soil and produce a non-stop display of tubular flowers in an array of colours and colour combination to suit all tastes. Luzula sylvatica 'Marginata' With the evergreen leaves edged with yellow it's great asset is that it will grow in sun or shade in any type of soil and is great as groundcover in the hardest spot to fill - dry shade. Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' A stunning, nectar-rich plant that will feed the beneficial insects in your garden. Leave the flowerheads once they have turned brown because they look stunning with winter frost and snow, extending the plant's interest period. Sarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem' If you need winter scent then look no further than this compact, evergreen shrub. The scent is stunning and the evergreen leaves create an excellent backdrop for the summer flowers. Cornus sanguinea 'Anny's Winter Orange' A dwarf version of 'Midwinter Fire' the very colourful stems create a stunning winter display, particularly on sunny days. Rosa 'Noisette Carnee' A very well-behaved climbing rose that is perfect for training over an arch, pergola or gazebo. The small, 'noisette' flowers are blush-pink and produce the most amazing clove scent constantly from June to November. Sanguisorba hakusanensis 'Lilac Squirrel' I've never seen a squirrel with a drooping, shaggy lilac tail, but this variety will give your garden an unusual and different look throughout summer. It does need a moisture retentive soil but will grow in sun or semi-shade. To ensure your hanging baskets thrive, simply dilute the fertiliser with water to ensure a lighter dose. But note that if you have forgotten to water your baskets and they have become bone dry and the plants are wilted, you should avoid fertilising them. Instead, water hanging baskets regularly and wait until the soil has absorbed enough clean water to become soft and the plants have perked up. Following this, you can then safely continue your regular fertiliser schedule.
