FG boosts food security with fertiliser rollout to 20,000 farmers

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to boost domestic food production with the launch of a farm input support programme that will provide subsidised fertiliser to more than 20,000 smallholder farmers across four North-Central states.

The initiative, implemented by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), will distribute 80,640 bags of NPK fertiliser to 20,160 farmers in Niger, Benue, Nasarawa and Kwara states as part of efforts to increase crop yields, lower production costs and strengthen food supply chains.

The programme, known as the Farm Input Support Programme (FISP), was flagged off on Wednesday in Minna, Niger State.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, said the intervention was designed to address one of the major constraints facing smallholder farmers: limited access to quality and affordable agricultural inputs.

According to him, the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s food security agenda by targeting farmers cultivating crops considered critical to national food production.

“FISP is not fertiliser distribution for the sake of distribution. It is targeted support designed to get fertiliser to the right farmers, for the right crops, at the right time. Our focus is on increasing productivity, improving farm output and supporting a more stable food market,” Ibrahim said.

He explained that the programme was structured around crop priorities in participating states. In Niger State, beneficiaries are engaged in rice, maize and yam production, while farmers in Benue State will receive support for rice, yam and soybean cultivation.

The NADF boss noted that all fertilisers supplied under the scheme were produced locally, a move expected to support domestic manufacturing while reducing dependence on imported farm inputs.

To improve transparency and curb diversion, he said the fertiliser bags have been branded “Not for Sale” and linked to verified beneficiaries through a validation process involving farmer associations and other stakeholders.

Agribusiness analysts say timely access to fertiliser remains critical to improving farm productivity, particularly as farmers grapple with rising input costs and the need to maximise yields during the current planting season.

Speaking at the launch, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State described the programme as a practical intervention that could stimulate agricultural production and improve rural livelihoods.

He said supporting smallholder farmers with key inputs would strengthen agricultural value chains, increase food availability and create economic opportunities in farming communities.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the programme reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing food insecurity through increased support for farmers.

According to him, the timing of the intervention is strategic, as it coincides with the onset of the rainy season when fertiliser demand is highest.

He noted that the NADF, as an agency of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is designed to carry out these kinds of specific interventions in the agricultural sector.

The Minister further noted that similar interventions would be implemented across other states as part of broader efforts to stimulate agricultural production and enhance food sovereignty.

Beyond fertiliser distribution, NADF said it has established a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure productivity gains, yield improvements and the overall impact of the programme on beneficiary farmers.

The initiative is expected to contribute to increased output of staple crops, strengthen food value chains and support the government’s objective of improving food affordability amid rising demand across the country.