The Federal Government has launched the Farm Input Support Programme (FISP), a major agricultural intervention that will provide 80,640 bags of subsidised NPK fertiliser to 20,160 smallholder farmers across four North Central states as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen food security, increase agricultural productivity and support local food production.
The programme, which was flagged off by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) in Minna, Niger State, is targeted at farmers in Niger, Benue, Nasarawa and Kwara States. It is designed to help farmers gain access to quality farm inputs at reduced cost while improving crop yields and expanding food production across the region.
The intervention forms part of the Federal Government’s broader agricultural development strategy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places significant emphasis on food security, agricultural transformation and rural economic development.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, described the programme as a strategic response to one of the most pressing challenges facing smallholder farmers in Nigeria—limited access to affordable and quality farm inputs.
According to him, many farmers continue to struggle with rising production costs, particularly the cost of fertiliser, which has affected productivity and reduced output in many farming communities. He noted that FISP was specifically designed to address this challenge by ensuring that fertiliser reaches genuine farmers at the right time during the farming season.
Ibrahim explained that the programme goes beyond ordinary fertiliser distribution and is focused on delivering measurable improvements in agricultural productivity and food production.
“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.
The NADF chief noted that the intervention aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of positioning agriculture as a major driver of economic growth, employment generation and national development.
He said the programme was carefully structured to support farmers cultivating crops that are critical to Nigeria’s food security goals while ensuring that public resources are utilised efficiently and transparently.
According to him, beneficiary selection was based on a rigorous validation process involving stakeholder consultations, farmer verification exercises and beneficiary screening mechanisms designed to ensure that support reaches actual farmers.
The programme focuses on priority crops identified through assessments of comparative advantage and production potential within participating states.
In Niger State, beneficiaries will receive support for rice, maize and yam cultivation. These crops were selected because of their importance to local food production and their significant contribution to agricultural output within the state.
For Benue State, the intervention targets rice, yam and soybean farmers. Benue remains one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural states and plays a critical role in the production of staple food crops consumed across the country.
The crop selection strategy reflects NADF’s objective of directing support towards commodities capable of delivering significant food security outcomes while supporting rural livelihoods and agricultural value chains.
Although the programme covers only four states within the North Central zone at this stage, government officials indicated that similar interventions are expected to be extended to other parts of the country as part of wider efforts to stimulate agricultural production nationwide.
One of the major features highlighted during the launch was the accountability framework built into the programme.
Ibrahim disclosed that all fertilisers supplied under FISP are produced locally in Nigeria, supporting domestic manufacturing and reducing dependence on imported agricultural inputs.
He further explained that every fertiliser bag distributed under the programme is fully traceable and clearly branded with the inscription “NOT FOR SALE” to discourage diversion and unauthorised resale.
According to him, NADF has implemented tracking mechanisms to ensure that each bag of fertiliser is linked directly to verified beneficiaries.
The approach, he said, is intended to improve transparency, strengthen accountability and ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the full benefit of the intervention.
Diversion of agricultural inputs has historically been one of the challenges affecting government-supported agricultural programmes. By introducing traceability systems and beneficiary mapping, NADF hopes to reduce leakages and improve programme effectiveness.
The agency believes that ensuring inputs reach genuine farmers is essential to achieving the programme’s objective of increasing food production and improving agricultural productivity.
Beyond the distribution of fertiliser, NADF says the programme has been designed to generate measurable outcomes that can be tracked and evaluated over time.
Ibrahim revealed that the agency has established a monitoring and evaluation framework that will assess productivity levels, crop performance, yield improvements and the overall impact of the intervention on participating farmers.
According to him, the success of the programme will ultimately be determined by outcomes recorded on farms rather than activities conducted during the launch event.
“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.
The emphasis on monitoring and impact measurement reflects a growing focus among government institutions on ensuring that agricultural interventions produce verifiable results and contribute meaningfully to national food security objectives.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who attended the launch ceremony, commended President Tinubu for prioritising agricultural development and supporting initiatives aimed at boosting food production.
The governor described the programme as a practical demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to achieving food security through strategic investment in agriculture.
According to him, empowering smallholder farmers with essential agricultural inputs remains one of the most effective ways to increase food production, improve incomes and strengthen rural economies.
Bago noted that smallholder farmers continue to account for a significant proportion of agricultural production in Nigeria and therefore require sustained support to maximise their productivity.
He said interventions such as FISP can help reduce production challenges while enabling farmers to cultivate larger areas and achieve better yields.
The governor also commended NADF for what he described as its consistent contribution to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.
He praised the leadership of Mohammed Abu Ibrahim and the agency’s efforts in developing targeted programmes that directly impact farmers and rural communities.
According to Bago, NADF has continued to play an important role in advancing food security goals by supporting initiatives that stimulate economic activity, improve productivity and create opportunities across the agricultural sector.
The governor further stressed the importance of collaboration between federal institutions, state governments, farmer organisations and development partners in achieving sustainable agricultural growth.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, also highlighted the significance of the programme during his remarks at the event.
He stated that the intervention demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling food insecurity through practical support for farmers.
According to the minister, the timing of the programme is particularly important because it coincides with the rainy season when demand for fertiliser is at its highest among farmers preparing for cultivation.
He noted that providing fertiliser at the appropriate stage of the farming cycle increases the likelihood of achieving positive productivity outcomes.
Abdullahi explained that NADF was established under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to implement targeted interventions that address specific challenges within the agricultural sector.
He said programmes such as FISP are examples of the type of focused support mechanisms required to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen food systems.
The minister also disclosed that similar interventions would be implemented in other states as part of broader efforts to increase agricultural production, strengthen food sovereignty and improve the resilience of Nigeria’s food supply chain.
The launch of FISP comes at a time when Nigeria continues to intensify efforts to increase domestic food production and reduce pressure on food prices.
Agriculture remains one of the most important sectors of the Nigerian economy, providing livelihoods for millions of people while contributing significantly to employment and rural development.
However, farmers across many parts of the country continue to face challenges including rising input costs, limited access to financing, climate-related risks and infrastructure constraints.
Access to fertiliser remains a critical factor influencing productivity levels, especially among smallholder farmers who often struggle to purchase inputs at market prices.
Government officials believe that reducing the cost burden associated with fertiliser acquisition can help farmers expand production and improve yields.
The distribution of more than 80,000 bags of subsidised NPK fertiliser under FISP is therefore expected to provide immediate support to thousands of farmers while contributing to broader food production objectives.
By focusing on staple crops such as rice, maize, yam and soybean, the programme seeks to strengthen the production of commodities that are central to household food consumption and national food security.
The intervention is also expected to support agricultural value chains by increasing the availability of raw materials for processing and related economic activities.
Officials at the launch reiterated that farmers remain critical partners in the Federal Government’s drive to achieve sustainable food security.
Ibrahim urged beneficiaries to use the fertiliser responsibly and strictly for agricultural purposes, stressing that the long-term success of the programme depends on effective utilisation of the inputs provided.
He maintained that improving productivity among smallholder farmers remains one of the most effective pathways to increasing domestic food production and achieving lasting food security.
The flag-off ceremony attracted key stakeholders from across Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem, including Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers, farmer associations, development partners and representatives of agricultural institutions.
