asked the Minister for Agriculture the total number of fertiliser manufacturers in the State at the moment; the total amount of fertiliser produced by each manufacturer in (a) in 1980, (b) 1981, (c) 1982, (d) 1983 and (e) 1984; the total amount of fertilisers sold to Irish farmers in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the position of both the manufacturers and distributors of fertilisers throughout the country.
Written Answers. - Fertiliser Production and Sales.
699.
There are seven firms engaged in the manufacture of fertilisers at present. The statistics received from individual firms are on a confidential basis and cannot be made available. Official statistics for fertiliser production and sales are compiled for the conventional fertiliser year 1 July to 30 June and are not available for calendar years.
Total production for the home market and total national sales of fertilisers over the past four fertiliser years were as follows:
|
Production million tonnes |
Sales million tonnes |
|
|
1980-81 |
1.30 |
1.5 |
|
1981-82 |
1.25 |
1.5 |
|
1982-83 |
1.24 |
1.53 |
|
1983-84 |
1.29 |
1.69 |
The manufacture and sale of fertilisers are governed by statutory regulations which are intended to ensure that the products conform with specified standards of quality and labelling.