20,160 N/Central Farmers To Benefit From FG’s Input Support Programme

The federal government has intensified its drive to strengthen food security and boost agricultural productivity  with the launch of the Farm Input Support Programme (FISP) for farmers in the North Central geopolitical zone

Under the initiative, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) will distribute 80,640 bags of subsidised NPK fertiliser to 20,160 smallholder farmers across Niger, Benue, Nasarawa and Kwara states.

The intervention is targeted at farmers cultivating priority food security crops, with the aim of increasing yields, reducing production costs and improving food supply across the country.

At the flag-off ceremony, the executive-secretary of NADF, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, said the programme was designed to address one of the most pressing challenges confronting farmers  access to quality and affordable agricultural inputs.

He noted that the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of transforming agriculture into a major driver of economic growth, employment generation and national development.

Ibrahim explained that the programme was carefully structured to ensure that support reaches genuine farmers engaged in the cultivation of crops critical to food security and economic growth.

He said NADF identified priority crops in each participating state based on comparative advantage and production potential. While the intervention in Niger State focuses on rice, maize and yam production, beneficiaries in Benue State will receive support for rice, yam and soybean cultivation.

He further disclosed that all fertilisers supplied under the programme were produced locally, fully traceable and branded “NOT FOR SALE” to prevent diversion and ensure transparency. According to him, every bag has been mapped to verified beneficiaries through a rigorous validation process involving stakeholder consultations and beneficiary screening.

“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.

“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 said.

Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, commended President Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to agricultural transformation, describing the intervention as a practical demonstration of the administration’s resolve to achieve food security and economic prosperity through strategic investments in agriculture.

He noted that empowering smallholder farmers with essential inputs remains one of the most effective ways to increase food production, improve rural livelihoods and strengthen agricultural value chains.

Earlier, the minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, described the intervention as a reflection of the federal government’s commitment to tackling food insecurity through enhanced support for farmers. He observed that the timing of the programme was strategic, coinciding with the onset of the rainy season when demand for fertiliser is at its peak.

He urged beneficiaries to utilise the fertiliser responsibly and strictly for the intended purpose, stressing that farmers remain critical partners in Nigeria’s quest to achieve sustainable food security.