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WORKSHOP REPORT
JOINT FERTILIZER TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP VALIDATION WORKSHOP
(Nigeria and Ghana) 23-25 May 2016
Global Village Suites Hotel, Nasarawa, Nigeria
Prepared by IFDC
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Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3
1. Workflow - DAY 1 (23 May, 2016) ............................................................................................... 3
1.1 Opening of the Workshop ....................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Partner Presentations: CountrySTAT, AfricaFertilizer.org and USAID WAFP ............................ 4
CountrySTAT Ghana and Nigeria ..................................................................................................... 4
AfricaFertilizer.org/IFDC .................................................................................................................. 4
USAID West Africa Fertilizer Program .............................................................................................. 4
1.3 Fertilizer Subsidy Programmes: Ghana and Nigeria.................................................................. 5
2. WorkFlow - DAY 2 (24 May, 2016) .............................................................................................. 5
2.1 Fertilizer Regulatory System- Ghana and Nigeria ..................................................................... 5
2.2 Fertilizer Production, Consumption and Data Sources in Ghana and Nigeria .......................... 7
2.3 Fertilizer Statistics Overview and Data Quality – Nigeria and Ghana (2014)............................ 8
2.3 Fertilizer Statistics Validation for 2015 Group Sessions – Nigeria and Ghana (2015) ............ 10
Nigeria 2015 Data Validation and Findings ................................................................................... 10
Ghana 2015 Data Validation and Findings .................................................................................... 11
3. WorkFlow - DAY 3 (25 May, 2016) ............................................................................................ 14
3.1 Finalization of Group Work and Country Presentation – Nigeria and Ghana (2015 Validated
Data) .............................................................................................................................................. 14
Nigeria 2015 Data Validation Summary ........................................................................................ 14
Ghana 2015 Data Validation Summary ......................................................................................... 15
3.2 Private Sector Issues and Concerns – Nigeria and Ghana ....................................................... 15
4. Conclusions ............................................................................................................................... 17
Workshop Closing Remarks – Nigeria and Ghana ......................................................................... 17
5. Consolidated Recommendations .............................................................................................. 17
ANNEX: WORKSHOP AGENDA ........................................................................................................... 19
ANNEX: WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS LIST ......................................................................................... 22
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Introduction
Since 2012, CountrySTAT, a program initiated by FAO and AfricaFertilizer.org (AFO), an initiative led by IFDC, established a partnership whose main objective is to improve the quality and availability of national statistics on production, trade and consumption of fertilizers. Under this partnership, CountrySTAT and AfricaFertilizer.org organize annual workshops to validate the national statistics on fertilizer in some countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This work now covers 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
This year, a joint Anglophone sub-regional statistical validation workshop on fertilizer production, trade and fertilizer consumption was jointly organized for Ghana and Nigeria from 23 to 25 May 2016 at the premises of Global Village Suites Hotel- Nasarawa State, Nigeria. This year’s Fertilizer Technical Working Group (FTWG) workshop was sponsored by the USAID West Africa Fertilizer Program (USAID WAFP).
The main objective of the workshop was to validate national fertilizer statistics for the year 2015. These included:
1. Present, review, process and validate detailed statistical data on production, imports, exports, apparent consumption and actual fertilizer consumption for Ghana and Nigeria.
2. Brainstorm on National Fertilizer policies and implementation 3. Share fertilizer sector experiences between Ghana and Nigeria.
Representatives from the National Bureau(s) of Statistics, Customs Service, Ministries of Agriculture departments, fertilizer importers and donor funded projects participated in the two and half (2.5) days’ workshop The full list of participants is attached to this report in the Annex.
Click to Access all Workshop Presentations and Files
1. Workflow - DAY 1 (23 May, 2016)
1.1 Opening of the Workshop
Picture 1: Welcome address by Mr. Henry Ekpiken
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The first day of the session moderated by Felix Nwoche started with an opening statement by Mr.
Rapheal Olorunmola; CountrySTAT coordinator for Nigeria; followed by Mr. Henry Ekpiken on behalf
of IFDC Nigeria. Japhet Lartey, the workshop facilitator in his welcoming address, assured participants
that the 2015 validated data would be published on COUNTRYSTAT website, AfricaFertilizer.org
website as well as in FERTINEWS West Africa; a monthly newsletter published jointly by USAID WAFP
and AFO.
1.2 Partner Presentations: CountrySTAT, AfricaFertilizer.org and USAID WAFP
CountrySTAT Ghana and Nigeria
The CountrySTAT Cordinators of both Ghana and Nigeria presented their activities, each appraising
successes and highlighting challenges of the program’s Technical Working Groups and supporting
activities. As part of the highlights from the Ghana CountrySTAT Cordinator, Mr. Francis Dzah, the
program was first piloted in Ghana in 2006, with a first consultative meeting and training that took
place in Rome. In 2012, CountrySTAT signed a partnership agreement with IFDC-International Fertilizer
Development Center while a first joint meeting between Nigeria and Ghana Fertilizer Technical
Working Groups of CountrySTAT was held in 2014. Challenges facing CountrySTAT Ghana include the
lag effect that occasions validated and published data, for example the validation of 2015 data in mid-
2016 without any 2016 component. The other challenge is the lack of funding for National
CountrySTAT activities.
The Nigerian CountrySTAT Cordinator, Mr. Olorunmola took the occasion to let the audience know
that this was his first meeting with the FTWG since he took over from his predecessor and expressed
optimism that the meeting’s objectives would be met.
AfricaFertilizer.org/IFDC
Grace Chilande, the Regional Cordinator of AfricaFertilizer.org ESAFD, gave an overview of the
AfricaFertilizer.org initiative, its activities and achievements, with emphasis on some of the activities
taking place in East Africa. She took the occasion to engage participants from fertilizer production
companies on the possible in developing a detailed fertilizer situation statement for the West African
region.
As part of Grace’s elaboration, she mentioned AfricaFertilizer.org project’s 2016 priority countries in
Sub-Saharan Africa. A fertilizer plant registry of all facilities that has been done and needs regular
updating, as well as wholesale and retail fertilizer price monitoring activities were some of the projects
achievements. She did not leave out the monthly FERTINEWS West Africa news that is published jointly
by USAID WAFP and AFO.
USAID West Africa Fertilizer Program
Japhet Lartey presented a detailed overview of the West African Fertilizer Program (WAFP). He
pointed out the various partners the WAFP works with (ECOWAS, AFAP, CORAF, etc.) as well as the
various intervention areas. To conclude his presentation he emphasized that efforts were underway
to ensure increased regional availability and use of appropriate and affordable fertilizers. WAFP is also
implementing a regional policy to facilitate uniformity in the quality of fertilizers traded in the West
Africa market with a regional advocacy body being set-up in the name of the West Africa Fertilizer
Association (WAFA). This is to ensure open regional markets for fertilizers.
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1.3 Fertilizer Subsidy Programmes: Ghana and Nigeria
Michael Owusu of Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture presented the Implementation and
Operation modalities of the Ghana Fertilizer Subsidy Program. He touched on importation and
company quota tender/approval processes before the program is launched. The highlights of the
Ghana’s fertilizer subsidy program included:
Government is subsidizing 180,000mt of fertilizer in 2016.
In the 2016 program each smallholder farmer is entitled to 15 bags of fertilizer (5 bags Urea
and 10 bags NPK) 50 kg each.
Ghana has introduced inorganic fertilizers into the subsidy program. A single company was
selected to supply this to avoid the issue of application rates, quality etc. that comes with
having different suppliers.
The distribution process starts around March of current year and ends around January of the
next year.
The system is not fool proof as cases of fraud and smuggling still take place.
In 2014, there was no inputs subsidy because payments that accrued in 2013 were not paid
on time.
Next on the line was the Nigerian GES presentation by Sale Adamu, Deputy Director, Farm Input
Support Services (FISS) of FMARD. The Nigerian highlights included:
The Growth Enhancement Support Scheme started in 2012
The subsidy is administered in the ratio of 1:1:2 whereby the Federal Government contributes
25%, State Governments 25% and Farmer 50%.
There was no subsidy in 2015 because of change in Government at all levels in Nigeria
In 2016, Nigeria has not ruled out GES but looking to adjust the contributing formula to 3:1
for States that have not indicated interest. Farmers will have to pay 75% of the input price.
Payment for the 2014 input supplies was confirmed to have commenced in 2016.
Recommendation: Nigeria participants suggested that FMARD can learn something about the
quota system and distribution structure of Ghana to ensure some control measures in the Nigerian
situation.
2. WorkFlow - DAY 2 (24 May, 2016)
On the second day of the workshop, the session started with opening prayers from Mr. Bamidele of
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) with Felix Nwoche as moderator. Japhet Lartey provided a recap of
the previous day’s activities.
2.1 Fertilizer Regulatory System- Ghana and Nigeria
Following the recap, Mr. Samuel Okyere of the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate
of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA-PPRSD) in Ghana presented the fertilizer regulatory
system. He outlined the Act and Legal Instruments governing the implementation of fertilizer
regulations in Ghana, the objective, registration process for companies and fertilizer products, the
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various administrative forms, licenses, fees, sampling, testing, inspection and also various activities
undertaken by the regulatory body.
Picture 2: Samuel Okyere presenting the Ghana Fertilizer Regulatory System
Mr. Falade of Golden Fertilizer (Nigeria) pointed out that the Ghana environment was over regulated
and this posed serious challenges to Golden Fertilizer’s ambitions of establishing their business in the
Ghana market based on previous attempts and related bureaucracy.
A discussion was initiated on the Nigerian regulatory environment by Felix Nwoche. The role of the
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was debated and it was
concluded that NAFDAC categorizes fertilizer as a chemical, but can only test samples of imported
products. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and the Farm Input
Support Services (FISS) agreed that they did not have a regulatory role on fertilizers backed by law.
However, Mr. Sale Adamu of FISS said that for six (6) years now, the bill has been with the National
Assembly to establish a regulatory function on fertilizers but has not been passed. Unlike Nigeria,
Ghana has a well-functioning regulatory body on fertilizers as the workshop noted.
Discussions drifted to the ECOWAS role in formulating regulation on fertilizers and Nigeria’s role. At
this point, Mr. Joshua Sanasi of FISS pointed out that the process had stalled following the Nigerian
Government’s desire to formulate its own policies on fertilizer first before pushing for a regional
policy. USAID WAFP representatives assured the participants that the project had taken steps to work
with the Nigerian government based on discussions held during the 2nd Annual Fertilizer Stakeholders
Forum that seeks to harmonize the ECOWAS regulations across the region and support countries
technically in its implementation.
Recommendation:
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1. USAID WAFP to continue working closely with the Federal Government in Nigeria’s situation
both from the view point of harmonizing the ECOWAS regulations and passing national
implementing regulations which must be aligned.
2. The need to streamline which body of the Federal Government backed by law, as the
authorized fertilizer regulatory body to put in place structures and processes for
implementation and enforcement as is the case in Ghana with the Plants and Fertilizer ACT
(2010).
3. Ghana to review some of the procedures in its national implementation regulations to open
up the market for foreign private investments as in the case of Golden Fertilizer and Notore
who are interested establishing in the country.
2.2 Fertilizer Production, Consumption and Data Sources in Ghana and Nigeria
Grace Chilande presented an example from East Africa on how their market situation data and report
is organized. The report features data on fertilizer use by crop, market size, subsidy information,
private sector investments such as production plants, government policies, cross border trade and so
on. It was agreed that this can also be compiled for West Africa as presented but AfricaFertilizer.org
must take the lead.
Table 1: East African example of Fertilizer Use by Crop Data Compilation
Grace also took participants through building fertilizer production (primary and secondary) and
consumption summary data for Nigeria and Ghana. The Nigerian private sector participants confirmed
FEPSAN as source of data for manufacturers’ volumes (primary production) as it currently stands. This
data was unconditionally shared with the workshop participants by the FEPSAN representative and
presented below for year 2014 and 2015.
Table 2: Nigeria Primary Fertilizer Production Estimates provided by FEPSAN
On the other hand, there is no consolidation currently on production volumes of fertilizer blenders in
Nigeria and Ghana at national level, and the blenders must be the direct source of data. It was also
noted that in Nigeria it is expensive to carry out such field survey on fertilizer use.
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During the discussions it was agreed that this can be done if private companies are in a position to
provide estimates of volumes blended, sold by fertilizer product, their corresponding crops (crop
categories) and consumption volumes by region. The plantations were also a direct source identified
for actual fertilizer used data together with their respective application rates.
As discussions went on Mr. Thompson Peter of the Nigerian Customs Service said that their outfit has
an excise unit that requires that production figures of all excisable goods in Nigeria should be reported
to customs by law, and blended fertilizer is an excisable commodity. Customs promised to assist IFDC
to check with their unit for this data if it is being collected at all. The Ghana Statistical Service
representative- Samuel Mortey acknowledged that this did not happen in Ghana and reasoned that
this example should be emulated.
On the issue of organic fertilizers, participants confirmed that it is a developing market in both Ghana
and Nigeria with local productions going on but not well harmonized in terms of quality, packaging
and so on.
Recommendations:
1. Felix of AFO should confer with customs to see how best to get Excise office to provide data
on secondary production of fertilizer blending companies if available.
2. It was suggested that IFDC can discuss and find ways to address this with key partners at all
levels.
3. AfricaFertilizer.org should directly send the templates to the private sector blending and
plantation companies for their responses on fertilizer secondary production, estimated
volumes sold by crop (or crop categories) and actual use and application rates data.
2.3 Fertilizer Statistics Overview and Data Quality – Nigeria and Ghana (2014)
Nigeria Overview through 2014
Fred Gyasi of AfricaFertilizer.org presented an insightful overview of Nigeria fertilizer statistics from
2011 to 2014. The outline of his presentation included statistics on fertilizer production, imports,
exports, agricultural and non-agricultural use of some products and some analysis of NPK’s in the
country.
He also mentioned that, the 2015 imports data obtained from customs that was to be validated wasn’t
very detailed (lacked origins of the products, proper description of the products that is not linked to
the HS Code, etc.) which hinders proper and detailed analysis of the data.
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Table 3: Nigeria Fertilizer Statistics Summary 2014
Following Fred’s presentation on Nigeria, Felix queried rise in the 2013 import data to 2014 import
data, considering that redemption costs overshot the 2014 budget on fertilizers in the country.
Responses from the participants revealed that in 2014, import licenses were denied to importers by
the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in Nigeria and that Federal Government was owing
from 2013 on subsidies. Subsequently, importers had no choice but to cut down on importation.
Also, following observations on reduced export figures from Notore in 2014, Dr. Okuku said that in
2014, Notore had gas line problems and this affected their production and export figures. On the
appropriate place to get export figures on fertilizer, Mr. Thompson of Nigerian Customs confirmed
that though export data were not captured electronically still, any request for export data from
customs will be welcomed and will be acted upon with results.
Mr. Bamidele of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) went ahead to say that all the time, the data
NBS receives varied significantly with the customs data even though the NBS could query the Customs
database directly from their office. To this, Customs responded by saying that cleaning work go on
with data before responses to data were given and this was not the case with NBS that can query raw
data directly.
Click to Download NIGERIA 2014 OVERVIEW
Ghana Overview through 2014
Fred again presented an insightful fertilizer statistics overview in Ghana from 2011 to 2014 and
participants were very excited as the data validated by them has been well packaged in an
understandable document. See table below:
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Table 4: Ghana Fertilizer Statistics Summary 2014
After the presentation, Fred threw the fertilizer statistics overview open for questions. Participants
asked of the export figures in the data considering that Ghana’s case was largely re-export of
fertilizers. It was also noted that in the overviews, a footnote should be added in the export section
so that people get the difference from actual exports although both are considered the same.
Click to Download GHANA 2014 OVERVIEW
2.3 Fertilizer Statistics Validation for 2015 Group Sessions – Nigeria and Ghana
(2015)
The combined participants of Nigeria and Ghana broke out into two separate groups. Both groups
looked through the fertilizer import and export data for their respective countries for the year 2015
from the raw form to the processed mechanism.
Nigeria 2015 Data Validation and Findings
The data validation lasted approximately two hours as the export part of the fertilizer statistics came
from only Notore Chemical Industries. During the validation exercise, two key discoveries where
made. First, ammonium nitrate was discovered as no longer being classified as fertilizer in Nigeria by
authorities. Customs continued to classify it as such till date and this has been taken note of at the
FTWG workshop for further action.
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Table 5: Processed Nigeria fertilizer imports data for 2015
Secondly, Mr. Bamidele realized during the data validation session that data queried for by customs returned nitrates as fertilizers whereas the NBS queries never included nitrates.
Status All
Sum of NETWEIGHT (MT) Usage
New HS Code Product Name Fertilizer Industrial Grand Total
3102100000 Urea 95 95
3102100000 Total 95 95
3102300000 Ammonium Nitrate 6,389 6,389
3102300000 Total 6,389 6,389
3102500000 Sodium Nitrate 22 22
3102500000 Total 22 22
3105200000 NPK 23 10 5 225 225
NPK 8 4 4 13 13
3105200000 Total 238 238
9999999999 Unknown 6 0 6
9999999999 Total 6 0 6
Grand Total 339 6,411 6,750
2015 TOTAL FERTILIZER EXPORTS PER PRODUCT [MT]
Table 6: Output of fertilizer exports generated from processed Ghana customs data
Click to Download NIGERIA PROCESSED IMPORTS DATA, SUMMARY and COUNTRYSTAT
OUTPUT TABLE
Ghana 2015 Data Validation and Findings
During the validation session for Ghana, Mr. Stephen Tour from Louis Dreyfus Commodities Ghana
(LDC Ghana) and Samuel Okyere (MOFA-PPRSD) immensely assisted to validate the volumes of some
fertilizers together with the other Ghanaian participants. It was made known that, all Kieserite and
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Magnesium Sulphate imported by the fertilizer companies should be classified as fertilizer and not
enhancers. It was made clear that these were the source of Magnesium (Mg) in blended NPK’s. A large
amount of it goes into the production of blended cocoa fertilizer.
Table 7: Processed Ghana fertilizer exports statistics for 2015
Occasionally the plantations, particularly oil palm estates, apply Kieserite directly to provide
Magnesium (Mg) to their plants. The fruit and vegetable farmers also use Magnesium Sulphate, which
is usually soluble to provide the nutrient. Below is a screenshot of the processed 2015 results for
fertilizer imports to Ghana.
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Sum of NETWEIGHT (MT) Usage
New HS Code Product Name1 Fertilizer Industrial Grand Total
2510000000 Phosphate rock 598 598
2510000000 Total 598 598
2530200000 Kieserite 7,519 7,519
2530200000 Total 7,519 7,519
2814100000 Anhydrous Ammonia 63 63
2814100000 Total 63 63
2814200000 Ammonium Hydroxide 66 66
2814200000 Total 66 66
2833210000 Magnessium Sulphate 94 94
2833210000 Total 94 94
2834210000 Potassium Nitrate 191 0 191
2834210000 Total 191 0 191
3101000000 Organic Fertilizers 7,818 7,818
3101000000 Total 7,818 7,818
3102100000 Urea 18,348 155 18,503
3102100000 Total 18,348 155 18,503
3102210000 Ammonium Sulphate 64,015 0 64,015
3102210000 Total 64,015 0 64,015
3102300000 Ammonium Nitrate 66,112 66,112
3102300000 Total 66,112 66,112
3102500000 Sodium Nitrate 202 202
3102500000 Total 202 202
3102600000 Calcium Nitrate 163 163
3102600000 Total 163 163
3102800000 UAN 613 613
3102800000 Total 613 613
3102900000 Other nitrogenous fertilizers 0 0
3102900000 Total 0 0
3103101000 TSP 32,052 32,052
3103101000 Total 32,052 32,052
3104200000 MOP 18,707 462 19,169
3104200000 Total 18,707 462 19,169
3104300000 SOP 204 0 204
3104300000 Total 204 0 204
3104900000 Other potash fertilizers 27 27
3104900000 Total 27 27
3105200000 NPK 138,140 138,140
3105200000 Total 138,140 138,140
3105300000 DAP 2,126 2,126
3105300000 Total 2,126 2,126
3105400000 MAP 18 18
3105400000 Total 18 18
3105700000 NK 4 0 40 + TE 48 48
3105700000 Total 48 48
3105900000 NPK Unknown 89 89
3105900000 Total 89 89
Grand Total 290,156 67,673 357,829
2015 TOTAL FERTILIZER IMPORTS PER PRODUCT [MT]
Table 8: Output of fertilizer imports generated from processed Ghana customs data
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Click to Download GHANA PROCESSED IMPORTS, PROCESSED EXPORTS, SUMMARY,
COUNTRYSTAT OUTPUT TABLE (Aggregated) and COUNTRYSTAT OUTPUT TABLE
(Disaggregated)
3. WorkFlow - DAY 3 (25 May, 2016)
On the last day of the workshop, the session started with Felix Nwoche as moderator. Japhet Lartey
again provided a recap of the previous day’s activities.
3.1 Finalization of Group Work and Country Presentation – Nigeria and Ghana
(2015 Validated Data)
Fred Gyasi presented the CountrySTAT output tables for Nigeria while Japhet continued with a
summary of the Ghana output tables. After this, Fred held a practical session on how to fill out the
output tables.
Nigeria 2015 Data Validation Summary
HS Code Product Name Production
Total
Imports Exports
Domestic
Availability
Non Fertilizer
use
Agricultural
Imports
Apparent
Consumption
2510100000 Phosphate Rock 1,320 1,320 725 595 595
2834210000 Potassium Nitrate 212 212 126 86 86
3101000000 Organic Fertilizers 47 47 47 47
3102100000 Urea 281,750 120,455 82,440 319,765 109 120,346 319,656
3102210000 Ammonium sulphate 11,804 11,804 1,321 10,483 10,483
3102290000 Double Salts of AS or AN 10 10 10 - 0
3102500000 Sodium Nitrate 121 121 121 - 0
3102800000 UAN 30 30 30 - 0
3102900000 Other Nitrogenous Fertilizers 61 61 61 61
3103100000 SSP 611 16,200 16,811 60 16,140 16,751
3103900000 Other Phosphate Fertilizers 50,596 50,596 50,596 50,596
3104200000 MOP 7,484 7,484 7,076 408 408
3104300000 SOP 95 95 95 - 0
3104900000 Other Potash Fertilizers 1,582 1,582 1,582 - 0
3105200000 NPK's 165,731 165,731 48 165,684 165,684
3105300000 DAP 5,500 5,500 5,500 5,500
3105400000 MAP 29 29 29 - 0
3105510000 NP 47,993 47,993 7 47,986 47,986
3105600000 PK Compounds 17 17 17 - 0
3105900000 NPK (Unknown Grade) 54 54 10 44 44
Grand Total 282,361 429,341 82,440 629,262 11,365 417,976 617,897 Table 9: Summary of 2015 Nigeria fertilizer statistics with apparent consumption derived
After the 2015 statistics data was validated, a summary output table was derived. The data showed
that the volumes of fertilizer production and exports increased in 2015 while’s imports reduced
drastically, thereby affecting apparent consumption as compared to 2014. This also was as a result of
subsidy not being implemented in 2015 because of change in Government at all levels in Nigeria.
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Ghana 2015 Data Validation Summary
Table 10: Summary of 2015 Ghana fertilizer statistics with apparent consumption derived
The data summary generated for Ghana (as shown in the table above) also depicted that fertilizer
imports increased in 2015 which directly translated into an increase in apparent consumption
compared to 2014. This increase was also attributed by workshop stakeholders as resulting from the
fertilizer subsidy program implemented in 2015 whilst there was none in 2014.
3.2 Private Sector Issues and Concerns – Nigeria and Ghana
Grace Chilande facilitated a discussion on issues regarding the private sector in Ghana and Nigeria. A
cross sectional discussion ensued between the Nigerian and Ghanaian participants on the reality of
the existence of free trade between borders.
Solomon Duah, the communication expert with IFDC Ghana, pointed out that there are delays
between borders while transporting goods even with complete paperwork. As an illustration, he
confirmed that to move onions from Niger to Ghana, a truck would be stopped about 23 times with
border officials demanding bribes without which delays are devised. The problem of delays between
borders when the services of trucks are engaged to move goods across the sub region was raised as a
big impediment to trade in the region. While paper policy recognizes no problems here, delays that
take more time than would have been required to move goods across borders in the region has
ensured truckers take up more work within borders than outside.
Moreover, Stephen Tour of LDC Ghana said that though there were no duties on importation of
fertilizers in Ghana, the process could take 2 weeks and longer. The process is usually delayed at the
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and then the Ministry of Finance resulting from paper work.
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Sometimes demurrage sets in at the ports because of such bureaucracies. On waiver applications, the
Ghana team said that on every import consignment, waivers were applied for but in Nigeria, waivers
are applied for once every 365 days- importations can then go on up to the extent of waiver applied
for.
Dr. Okuku of Notore came in to throw more light on demurrage and said this was the reason Notore
preferred to export to other parts of Europe and China rather than in West Africa. In addition to the
problems posed by demurrage, Dr. Okuku pointed out that preferential treatment with respect to
porting vessels at the port was a teething problem. He however said it was not an official policy and
that solving this problem falls at the purview of the Nigerian Port Authority.
As the discussions drifted to policy Mr. Gideon Negedu of TAK mentioned that urea was still being
moved in the country but was policed by the military. As a result of military policing of the product,
he corroborated Dr. Okuku’s position that it takes about 2 months to get it to farmers. Also on policies,
the NSA Advisor is authorized to provide an end user certificate for every fertilizer imported into the
country. Applications will have to be submitted through FISS. Dr. Okuku took the opportunity to point
out to FISS that delays at their point causes huge losses to the importer. This he highlighted from his
personal experiences. An official from FISS acknowledged this and gave an assurance that they would
make improvements in the authorization process.
In addition, the application for end user certificates, FISS confirmed the process has now been
automated and it’s now web based. Mr. Thompson of Customs explained that delays experienced in
the granting of an import license were attributed to investigation of applicants outside their
knowledge.
Mr. Peter Okomoh took over to expound what the expectations of the private sector are from the
development point of view. He mentioned the building of farmer capacities with respect to newer
technologies, research support, value chain support, taking a lead on initiatives like the subsidy
programs as well as support for the private sector.
Finally, participants were taken through the cost-chain analysis template for gathering information in
West Africa, Dr. Okuku suggested aggregated average figures representing each country must be the
focus when trying to share this information to protect contributing company(s) information as well as
avoid confidentiality clauses. Grace promised to confer with the companies after the workshop to
collate the cost chain analysis.
Recommendations: Governments and Regional bodies should go beyond formulating policies to
actual implementation in order to provide an enabling environment for fertilizer trade within and
outside borders of West Africa.
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4. Conclusions
Workshop Closing Remarks – Nigeria and Ghana
All participants took turns to highlight how the workshop benefitted them and how it can be improved
upon. From most of the first time participants, they confirmed this has been an eye opener on
how statistics validation can actually be implemented with all critical stakeholders involved.
Closing remarks came from the CountrySTAT leaders from Ghana and Nigeria as well as from Mr.
Henry Ekpiken. Henry promised IFDC’s continued support to the Fertilizer Technical Working Groups
to achieve the shared objectives. Mr. Sale Adamu led in closing prayers and the workshop was closed.
5. Consolidated Recommendations
No. Category Recommendation Responsible Date
1. ANNUAL
TECHNICAL
WORKING
GROUP
MEETINGS
(TWGs)
Both Ghana and Nigeria CountrySTAT
leaders appealed to IFDC to continue
supporting the FTWG workshops as
well as some financial support if
possible since the mandate is now on
the country institutions to fund the
annual validation workshops which is
usually a challenge
IFDC, COUNTRYSTAT
NIGERIA AND GHANA
LEADERS, FAO
2016
2. NIGERIA TWG
MEETING
IFDC Nigeria will be invited to
participate in 2016 TWG workshop by
CountrySTAT Nigeria.
COUNTRYSTAT
NIGERIA
Jun-Jul
2016
3. SUBSIDY FMARD encouraged to find out
more of the quota system and
distribution structure of Ghana to
ensure some control measures in
the Nigerian situation.
FMARD 2016
4. FMARD USAID WAFP recommended to
continue supporting Nigeria to
Harmonize the ECOWAS regulations
and its national implementation
regulations
USAID WAFP,
FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OF
NIGERIA
2016
5. PROUCTION &
CONSUMPTION
IFDC to confer with Customs Service to
confirm if Excise offices have compiled
data on secondary fertilizer production
IFDC, NIGERIA
CUSTOMS
May-July
2016
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6. PROUCTION &
CONSUMPTION
AfricaFertilizer.org should send
templates on secondary production
and fertilizer use by crop directly to
blenders and plantations to obtain the
required data in Ghana and Nigeria for
Fertilizer Use analysis
IFDC, PRIVATE
SECTOR
May-
August
2016
7.
NIGERIA
EXPORT DATA
Felix to confer with Customs to collect
available exports statistics.
IFDC, NIGERIA
CUSTOMS
May-July
2016
8. NIGERIA RAW
DATA
Felix should request for more raw data
details such as origins of products
proper description of the products
that is not linked to the HS Codes
IFDC, NIGERIA
CUSTOMS
2016/201
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9. 2015 Updated
Overviews
Fred to share updated country
overviews with FTWG members
IFDC Aug 2016
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ANNEX: WORKSHOP AGENDA
ANGLOPHONE SUB-REGIONAL
Fertilizer Technical Working Group Workshop (Ghana and Nigeria)
23rd-25th May, 2016.
NASARAWA- NIGERIA
AGENDA
DAY 1
Monday 23 May, 2016– NIGERIA-GHANA FTWG WORKSHOP
13:00 Participants arrival and lunch Responsible
14:30 Introduction
Registration of participants
Introduction (participants)
Welcome address (IFDC Nigeria)
Welcome address (Ghana & Nigeria CountrySTAT Coordinators)
Sylvia Nukpor
H. Ekpiken
Mr. F. Dzah & Mr.
Raphael
15:00 Session 1 –– CountrySTAT / AfricaFertilizer.org partnership
Overview of AfricaFertilizer.Org activities and plans for 2016.
Presentation on USAID WAFP (presence and activities in the
region)
Presentation on CountrySTAT Ghana (experience, activities,
current status with FAO)
Presentation on CountrySTAT Nigeria (experience, activities,
current status with FAO)
Recap of 2015 FTWG workshop reports
Grace Chilande
Japhet Lartey
Mr. F. Dzah
Mr. Raphael
Japhet Lartey
16:00 Coffee / tea break
16:30 Fertilizer and agricultural sector overviews:
1. Presentation: Ghana 2016 Fertilizer Subsidy program and
plans
2. Presentation: Nigeria Fertilizer Subsidy/GES program and
plans for 2016
Discussions Fertilizer and agricultural sector:
- Private Sector issues and concerns
- Fertilizer regulatory Environment
- New national agricultural programs and initiatives
- Statistical Services (Agric Census, data collection, etc.)
Michael Owusu
Felix Nwoche
Japhet Lartey
NGA/GHA Ministry of
Agriculture reps,
Private Sector reps and
Statistical Service reps.
20
17:00 Workshop Closes
DAY 2
Tuesday 24 May, 2016– NIGERIA-GHANA FTWG WORKSHOP
8:30
Recap of Previous day’s activities
Responsible
Sylvia Nukpor
9:00 Session 1 – Presentation of fertilizer trade statistics overviews Phred Gyasi
9:30 Discussions of trade statistics in Ghana and Nigeria
(Data sources, quality, etc.)
Japhet Lartey
10:00 Coffee / tea break
10:30 Session 3 – Statistics
- Analysis of primary and secondary production
- Analysis of available statistics on actual consumption by
crop/products
Felix Nwoche
Samuel Ali
13:00 Lunch break
14:00 Session 2 – Statistics Group Work Session
Group 1: Ghana Trade and Consumption Data validation Group 2: Nigeria Trade, Production and Consumption Data validation
G. Chilande, F. Nwoche,
P. Gyasi, J. Lartey
15:00 Coffee / tea break
15:30 Group work session continues
Production of Statistical output tables
17:00 Workshop Closes
DAY 3
Wednesday 25 May, 2016– NIGERIA-GHANA FTWG WORKSHOP
8:30
Recap of Previous day’s activities
Responsible
Sylvia Nukpor
21
9:00 Session 1 – Finalization of group work
Presentation of group work by Ghana
Presentation of group work by Nigeria
Publishing of output tables on web platforms
One group member from
both countries
10:00 Coffee / tea break
10:30 Wrap Up
2016 action plan and deliverables for FTWG
Workshop Recommendations
Closing Remarks
Vote of Thanks
Japhet Lartey
Mr. Dzah & Mr.
Raphael
H. Ekpiken
13:00 Lunch break WORKSHOP CLOSES
22
ANNEX: WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS LIST
No. Name Institution Position Contact Profesional Email Country
1 Adamu SALE Farm Inputs Support Service Department of Federal
Fertilizer Department [FFD/FMARD]
Deputy Director +234 8028842311 [email protected] Nigeria
2 H.Sanasi JOSHUA Federal Fertilizer Department [FFD/FMARD] FISS SAO/ Farm Input Support +234 8065269673 [email protected] Nigeria
3 Samuel ALI Fertilizer Association of Nigeria [FEPSAN] Advocacy Officer +234 7036043838 [email protected] Nigeria
4 Gideon NEGEDU TAK AGRO/ Fertilizer Association of Nigeria [FEPSAN] Senior Manager Sales and Marketing / Liaison officer +234 7039856665 [email protected] Nigeria
5 Bertram C. NSOFOR Customs Asst. Compt. / trade statistics +234 8067404925 [email protected] Nigeria
6 Peter THOMPSON Customs Tariff & Trade Unit +234 8037207913 [email protected] Nigeria
7 Falade Isaac OLUSEGUN Golden Fertilizer Head Agro inputs flour mills Nigeria +234 8113394472 [email protected] Nigeria
8 Bamidele AKANDE National Bureau of Statistics [NBS] Foreign Trade Unit +234 8023203089 [email protected] Nigeria
9 Moses Waniko National Bureau of Statistics [NBS] Statistician +234 07054633543 [email protected] Nigeria
10 D. A. BABALOLA National Bureau of Statistics [NBS] Assistant Director +234 8030953925 [email protected] Nigeria
11 Mojeed OLAWALE FMARD HDPO +234 8051634840 [email protected] Nigeria
12 Olorunmola dare RAPHEAL FMARD CountrySTAT Coordinator +234 8051634840 [email protected] Nigeria
13 Innocent OKUKU Notore Chemicals Head Commercial Dept +234 8073800137 [email protected] Nigeria
14 Francis Korku DJAH Ghana Statistical Service Head of Agric & Environment, CountrySTAT
Coordinator
+233 242546810 [email protected] Ghana
15 Samuel Yaw MORTEY Ghana Statistical Service Head of Trade +233 265010789 [email protected] Ghana
16 Rochester Boateng APPIAH-KUSI Ghana Statistical Service Assistant Chief of Statistics +233 244627034 [email protected] Ghana
17 Daniel Denku WAWO MOFA (SRID) Snr. Agric Officer +233 244087173 [email protected] Ghana
18 Michael OWUSU MOFA (CSD) Snr. Agric Officer +233 248386529 [email protected] Ghana
19 Samuel Nana Siaw Okyere MOFA (PPRSD) Assistant Agric Officer +233 244843668 [email protected] Ghana
20 Stephen TOUR Louis Dreyfus Commodities Ghana Agronomist +233 244423012 [email protected] Ghana
21 Peter OKOMOH IFDC USAID Agro Input Project, Private Sector Specialist +234 8090492006 [email protected] Nigeria
22 Henry EKPIKEN IFDC Government Liaison Officer +234 8035950812 [email protected] Nigeria
23 Felix NWOCHE IFDC JFMA (AFO/WAFP) +234 8062334177 [email protected] Nigeria
24 Demba Doua Diallo IFDC Sahel Sub-Region Liason Officer, WAFP +223 76403966 [email protected] Mali
25 Grace Chilande WEKHUYI IFDC Fertilizer Market Specialist +254 717271033 [email protected] Kenya
26 Japhet LARTEY IFDC MIS/ICT Applications Specialist, USAID WAFP +233 244402301 [email protected] Ghana
27 Fred GYASI IFDC Website & Database Manager, AfricaFertilizer.org +233 243030004 [email protected] Ghana
28 Sylvia Delali NUKPOR IFDC Project Assistant, AfricaFertilizer.org +233 243131046 [email protected] Ghana
29 Solomon Agyeman Duah IFDC Communication Specialist +233 244443349 [email protected] Ghana