The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has launched a major agricultural support programme in Katsina State, distributing 168,000 bags of fertiliser to 25,200 smallholder farmers as part of the Federal Government’s Farm Input Support Programme (FISP).
The initiative is aimed at increasing food production, reducing farming costs, and strengthening food security across Nigeria. The programme is expected to help thousands of farmers improve crop yields during the current farming season.
Speaking during the launch, the Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, described the fertiliser distribution as a strategic investment in the country’s agricultural sector. He explained that each beneficiary farmer will receive four bags of fertiliser to support farming activities and improve productivity.
According to him, the programme will support the cultivation of about 128,931 hectares of farmland, which is expected to contribute significantly to national food output.
Ibrahim stressed that the intervention goes beyond simply sharing fertiliser. He noted that the programme was carefully designed to ensure that the right farmers receive the appropriate farm inputs at the right time to maximize agricultural production.
He explained that the initiative was developed after assessing farmers’ needs, market demand, and production realities across participating states. The goal, he said, is to improve access to quality agricultural inputs, increase farm productivity, and help reduce food prices for consumers.
To ensure transparency and accountability, the fertiliser distribution process includes beneficiary verification, duplication checks, stakeholder involvement, and monitoring systems. Ibrahim stated that every bag of fertiliser is linked to a verified farmer to prevent diversion and ensure that government support reaches genuine beneficiaries.
Beyond the Katsina intervention, the NADF boss highlighted several agricultural development projects being implemented across the North-West region. He revealed that the Fund partnered with the Katsina State Government in 2024 to provide livelihood support to more than 5,000 households across seven local government areas.
He also disclosed that the Fund supported over 2,000 onion farmers affected by flooding in Sokoto and Kebbi states last year. In Jigawa State, NADF is currently developing a 3,000-hectare irrigation scheme at the Auyakawa/Jamare Dam and establishing an Agricultural Development Hub to boost farming activities.
Ibrahim praised the Katsina State Government for its commitment to agricultural development, noting that investments in mechanisation, irrigation, climate-smart farming, and rural development have made the state one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural hubs.
He encouraged farmers benefiting from the programme to use the fertiliser responsibly and adopt improved farming methods that can increase yields and enhance food production.
Also speaking at the event, the Katsina State Commissioner for Agriculture and Livestock, Aliyu Lawal Zakari, described the programme as a timely intervention that would strengthen food security and support ongoing agricultural reforms in the state.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the state government’s efforts to improve agricultural productivity and support smallholder farmers. He noted that Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s administration has invested heavily in agriculture through the provision of tractors, improved seeds, solar-powered irrigation facilities, water pumps, and mechanisation services.
Zakari said the federal government’s fertiliser support would complement these efforts by improving farmers’ access to essential inputs and encouraging climate-smart agricultural practices.
He urged beneficiaries to see farming as a profitable business capable of creating jobs, improving incomes, and driving economic growth. He added that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development would closely monitor the programme to ensure its successful implementation.
The commissioner also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Radda for placing agriculture at the center of efforts to improve food security and support economic recovery.
With thousands of farmers set to benefit, stakeholders believe the programme will help increase food production, strengthen rural livelihoods, and contribute to a more secure and sustainable agricultural sector in Nigeria.
