NADF Launches Farm Input Programme to Boost Food Security in North Central

James Emejo in Abuja

The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) officially launched its Farm Input Support Programme (FISP) for the North Central geopolitical zone in Minna, Niger State, on Wednesday. The programme will supply 80,640 bags of subsidised NPK fertiliser to 20,160 smallholder farmers across Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, and Kwara States. The focus is on priority food crops to boost yields, cut production costs, and strengthen the national food supply.

Executive Secretary/CEO of NADF, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, described the initiative as a strategic intervention to address the persistent challenge of affordable, quality inputs for Nigerian farmers. He said the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agricultural transformation agenda, which aims to reposition farming as a key driver of economic growth, job creation, and national development.

Ibrahim emphasized that FISP is not a blanket distribution but a carefully structured support system targeting genuine farmers working on priority crops essential to food security. “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,” he said.

He explained that NADF identified priority crops for each state based on comparative advantage and production capacity. In Niger State, beneficiaries will focus on rice, maize, and yam production; in Benue State, support will target rice, yam, and soybean cultivation. Similar crop-specific frameworks will guide implementation in Nasarawa and Kwara States.

All fertilisers under the scheme are locally produced, fully traceable, and clearly marked “NOT FOR SALE” to prevent diversion. Each bag has been mapped to verified beneficiaries through a rigorous validation process involving stakeholders and farmer associations.

The NADF chief also disclosed that the programme includes a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track outcomes such as productivity levels, yield improvements, and broader impact on beneficiaries. “The real success of this programme will not be measured by today’s ceremony but by what happens on the farms in the coming months. We are committed to tracking results and using evidence to strengthen future interventions,” he stated.

He urged farmers to apply the inputs responsibly and strictly for their intended agricultural use, noting that beneficiaries remain central partners in achieving national food security goals.

In Niger, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago praised the federal government for demonstrating a practical commitment to agricultural transformation under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He said empowering smallholder farmers with critical inputs is one of the most effective ways to increase food production, improve rural livelihoods, and strengthen agricultural value chains. The governor also highlighted NADF’s leadership in providing targeted, impact-driven programmes that directly benefit rural communities, arguing that such interventions are essential for stimulating grassroots economic activity and accelerating Nigeria’s drive toward food sufficiency.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the programme reflects the Federal Government’s sustained commitment to addressing food insecurity through increased support to farmers. He noted that the timing of the intervention is strategic, coinciding with the onset of the rainy season when demand for fertiliser peaks. Abdullahi added that NADF, operating under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, was established to implement targeted interventions that directly enhance agricultural productivity.

Kyari attended the ceremony along with lawmakers, traditional rulers, farmer associations, and development partners. The flag‑off of FISP in the North Central zone marks another milestone in Nigeria’s broader agricultural reform agenda, which seeks to increase domestic food production, strengthen value chains, improve affordability, and advance food sovereignty. With coordinated support from federal and state actors, the initiative is expected to deepen productivity gains and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s long‑term food security and economic resilience agenda under Tinubu’s leadership.