THE PROBLEMS OF FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTION IN NIGERIA. (A CASE STUDY OF ENUGU STATE DEPOT)
ABSTRACT
This research work dwells on the Management of Fertilizer Distribution in Nigeria with case study of Enugu State. It relates management as a practice that involves employing proper plans in the bid to enhancing distribution of fertilizer products to their point of needs with ease.
If went on further to disclose the encouragement of government monopoly on the products by respective farmers and the satisfactory result obtained by the distribution of this products, by farmers and the government respectively.
In other words, the government is being given the charge of being the authorized agency for the distribution of these products throughout the state.
It was further mentioned that government officials are involved in the mismanagement of fertilizer products and diversion of quota meant for the state to unknown places.
The poor performance of distribution channels was disclosed as being detrimental to distribution of these products. Nevertheless, the utilization of management functions was being mentioned as a measure, for the enhancement of fertilizer distribution throughout the state. Also mentioned was the inequality between demand and supply of fertilizer products. It was advised that the government should increase the number of fertilizer products supplied to the state to meet up the demand for it.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Management practice has been in existence of the lives of men from time immemorial. Management is solely concerned with results. In other words, it is concerned with result orientation and not activity orientation. Management is seen as a practice demanding the performance of specific management functions namely planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling and co-ordination. Such functions, if not observed effectively, leads to no result orientation.
Agbo (2001:12) cited that “proper planning must be done to get (employ) the needed human and material resources and position these resources (apply) judiciously to where they belong (right positions)”. The getting and applying of these resources respectively is seen as a practice.
On the other hand, fertilizers are applied to the soil to promote greater plant growth and better crop quality respectively. In that case farmers endeavour to apply the kind and amount of each fertilizer constituent that gives the most profitable response. Fertilizer needs are established by field experiments and farm trials for each soil type, environment, crop and crop variety. Any practice other than fertilizer application that improves total crop yields – even crop rotation, and green manuring – speeds up depletion of the mineral elements of the soil. Soil depletion that occurs under good management need not be viewed with alarm. Rather, good management involves the use of improved varieties and other practices that brings profitable crop yields that facilitates soil improvement with greater use of fertilizers.
Distribution is dimmed important in the management of fertilizer due to the fact that it involves the putting in different places fertilizers products meant for agriculture from place of production to that of consumers respectively thereby creating utility (satisfaction) for respective consumers at large. Therefore the need for fertilizer distribution is of immense importance.
In as much as management of fertilizer distribution in Nigeria is concerned respectively, it is viewed that management practice functions which include planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling and co-ordination which boost the distribution of fertilizer products to their various place of needs. Moreover, the management of fertilizer also makes sure that proper planning is done to get the needed human and material resources respectively and position these respective resources showing or having good sense to where they belong.
