The Federal Government has outlined plans to support 127,000 farmers with fertiliser ahead of the 2026 wet farming season, as part of a broader strategy to stabilise food prices, strengthen domestic production and rebuild public confidence in Nigeria’s food system.
Follow us on Google News
The initiative, to be delivered under the Renewed Hope Fertilizer Support Programme, was disclosed during a Ministerial Policy Dialogue held at the Nigeria Public Relations Week in Kaduna, themed “Feeding Nigeria: Policy, Production and Public Trust.” The intervention forms a key component of ongoing efforts by the government to address persistent food inflation and supply-side constraints affecting the agricultural sector.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed Ibrahim, said the government’s approach is centred on “market correction,” combining immediate relief measures with long-term structural reforms.
According to Ibrahim, recent policy decisions, including the reduction of import tariffs on key agricultural inputs and commodities, have already contributed to easing pressure on food prices. “Food prices this time last year were astronomically high, but some of the direct policies we introduced, especially around import tariff reductions, have helped stabilise the situation,” he said.
He explained that while short-term interventions are necessary to cushion current pressures, the government is also prioritising policies that protect and expand local production capacity. This includes targeted support for farmers and agro-processors, particularly those operating integrated value chain models.
“We have focused on farm input support programmes and agro-processing. We are providing subsidised inputs to processors with backward integration models. Strengthening both the farm and the factory is critical to ensuring agricultural policies succeed,” Ibrahim said.
Within this framework, the fertiliser support planned for 127,000 farmers is expected to address one of the most pressing challenges in the sector—the rising cost of inputs. Farmers across the country have continued to face high production costs, which in turn affect food supply and market prices.
Ibrahim noted that although food inflation has begun to moderate, dropping to around 14 percent from about 25 percent recorded during the same period last year, cost pressures remain significant. “Food prices are beginning to abate, although challenges remain, particularly around the high cost of inputs. Farmers are still feeling the pressure,” he said.
To further tackle these challenges, the government is implementing complementary measures, including efforts to liberalise access to mechanisation, improve input distribution systems and enhance targeted support across priority agricultural value chains.
“These interventions are beginning to yield results, and we expect inflation to continue on a downward trajectory,” he added.
Central to the implementation of these initiatives is the NADF, which is driving financing, coordination and institutional support across the agricultural sector. Ibrahim outlined the Fund’s mandate, which spans crop production, livestock, fisheries and agro-forestry, as well as concessional financing for farmers and agribusinesses.
He also highlighted the Fund’s role in supporting agricultural research, extension services and capacity building, alongside the establishment of state-level agricultural offices and emergency response mechanisms for issues such as disease outbreaks and input shortages.
Beyond production, the Fund is working to expand rural financial inclusion by linking farmers with formal financial institutions and fostering partnerships with international development agencies to boost productivity.
Through its existing programmes, NADF has already recorded measurable reach across multiple states. Its Ginger Recovery, Advancement and Transformation for Economy Empowerment (GRATE) initiative has supported more than 5,000 farmers in Kaduna, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, while the Farm Input Support Programme (FISP) has delivered subsidised inputs to 50,000 smallholder farmers nationwide, covering all six geopolitical zones with up to 75 percent subsidy on seeds, fertilisers and crop protection products.
In addition, emergency interventions have been extended to over 2,000 onion farmers affected by crises in Sokoto, Yobe, Borno and Kebbi states, underscoring the Fund’s role in responding to sector-specific shocks.
The planned fertiliser distribution to 127,000 farmers represents a scale-up of these efforts, with coverage expected across 25 states and the FCT. The intervention is designed not only to boost yields during the 2026 wet season but also to reinforce broader policy objectives around food security and price stability.
On the financing side, Ibrahim disclosed that NADF has mobilised billions of naira through partnerships with state governments and financial institutions to support large-scale agricultural projects. These include a N1.14 billion investment in ginger production in Kaduna State and a N5 billion co-financing arrangement with the Niger State Government for rice and maize cultivation, alongside on-lending facilities to banks supporting fertiliser production, rice processing and cassava value chains.
The Fund’s blended finance model has also attracted private sector participation, helping to reduce borrowing costs and expand access to credit for agribusinesses. One example cited is its partnership with Psaltry International, IDH and a foundation, which supported 15,000 young women engaged in cassava cultivation in Oyo State.
At the sub-national level, NADF is collaborating with states including Cross River, Jigawa and Katsina to develop risk-sharing frameworks aimed at improving access to agricultural financing and reducing exposure for lenders.
Ibrahim emphasised that the fertiliser support programme and other interventions are aligned with the government’s broader objective of achieving food sovereignty. “As we continue to implement these programmes, our goal is clear, to ensure that Nigeria can feed itself sustainably while creating economic opportunities across the agricultural value chain,” he said.
Stakeholders at the policy dialogue acknowledged that while recent measures have contributed to moderating food inflation, sustaining the gains will require continued investment, policy consistency and effective communication to build and maintain public trust in the agricultural sector.
