The Federal Government has launched the distribution of 100,800 bags of fertiliser to 25,200 smallholder farmers across five North-West states, as part of its Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme aimed at boosting food production and reducing the country’s dependence on imported agricultural commodities. 

The programme, implemented through the National Agricultural Development Fund, was flagged off at a ceremony in Katsina State at the weekend.

NADF Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, said the initiative is designed to reduce production costs, improve access to quality farm inputs and enhance agricultural output in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He disclosed that each beneficiary farmer will receive four bags of fully subsidised fertiliser, while each of the five participating states Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Jigawa has been allocated 20,160 bags for distribution to 5,040 farmers. Beneficiaries were identified through state governments in collaboration with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria to ensure transparent and targeted delivery.

Ibrahim noted that the fertiliser programme targets farmers cultivating key staple crops including maize, rice, sorghum, cowpea and tomato, and that strict monitoring and tracking mechanisms have been put in place to ensure the inputs reach the intended recipients.

He added that the North-West rollout is part of a wider nationwide programme under which NADF plans to distribute 515,720 bags of fertiliser to 128,930 smallholder farmers across the country.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the programme demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and promoting local fertiliser production. He noted that the intervention is aligned with the State of Emergency on Food Security declared by President Tinubu and is expected to drive increased agricultural output, create jobs and strengthen food security nationwide.

The NADF boss also highlighted complementary interventions already underway in the region, including support for over 5,000 ginger farmers hit by blight in Kaduna State and assistance extended to onion farmers in Kebbi and Sokoto states affected by flooding.

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, who is also Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum, commended the Federal Government for the initiative and warned that diversion of the fertiliser would not be tolerated. He directed the state’s Ministry of Agriculture, AFAN and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a transparent and fair distribution process.

“The fertiliser is not for sale,” he stated, “it is meant for smallholder farmers.”