The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has entered a strategic collaboration with the International Fertiliser Development Center (IFDC) to enhance fertiliser availability and promote sustainable soil health as part of efforts to secure Nigeria’s food and nutrition future.
The agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting between the minister of agriculture and food security, Abubakar Kyari and senior IFDC officials on the sidelines of the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal.
A statement from the ministry’s head, information department, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, said Kyari explained that the partnership would deliver technical assistance for data-driven fertiliser recommendations, strengthen local blending capacity and curb adulteration within the input supply chain.
He noted that the partnership also covers improving soil fertility and ensuring that farmers gain access to quality inputs when needed.
The minister emphasised the importance of strengthening input markets, expanding last-mile delivery systems and scaling up climate-smart soil fertility practices that directly benefit smallholder farmers.
He noted the introduction of the Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS), describing it as a groundbreaking initiative tailored to provide crop- and location-specific fertiliser recommendations that can transform agricultural productivity across the country.
“A stronger partnership with IFDC will help us improve soil health, ensure quality inputs reach farmers on time, and advance food security in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agricultural agenda,” Kyari said.
He added that interventions must prioritize affordability, quality assurance, and timely delivery, particularly in Nigeria’s staple crop belts, while aligning with broader efforts to raise productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve rural livelihoods.
In his remarks, IFDC president and chief executive officer, Henk van Duijn, affirmed that the collaboration would strengthen private-sector distribution networks, promote targeted soil testing, encourage balanced nutrient use, and support farmer training in good agronomic practices.
He also highlighted IFDC’s commitment to advancing evidence-based policies that foster competitive and transparent input markets.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to establish a joint Technical Committee that will work out the operational details of the partnership.
