…as stakeholders dialogue on digital farmers’ registry

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, Wednesday, commended the Federal Government’s moves to harmonize farmers’ data register, which is to be known as ‘Digital National Farmers’ Registry’.

The Country Director, IFAD, Dede Ekoue, made the commendation at the ‘Policy Dialogue on Digital National Farmers’ Registry, held in Abuja, where the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, launched ‘Policy Dialogue on Digital National Farmers’ Registry’.

Ekoue, expressed excitement over the new development as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food in launching the policy dialogue initiative on the National Digital Farmer Registry.

The Dialogue had in attendance, the Bank of Agriculture, BoA; National Bureau of Statistics, NBS; National Identity Management Commission, NIMC; National Population Commission, NPC; Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO; African Development Bank, AfDB; Heifer International in Nigeria; and other stakeholders.

She said: “IFAD is just part of the players that are supporting the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and our role here is to convene all the partners, development partners, from the public sector, the private sector, and the international community, to put our resources together to support the effort of the government in establishing and enabling digital farmers’ registry for the country.”

She also noted that there are farmer registries and there are national database of farmers, “but unfortunately, it is real, we have an issue of fragmentation and sustainability.

“So the government is now providing us with a sense of direction and matching orders to all the actors to work together, and this is what we are doing today with several partners, including the African Development Bank, FAO, the World Bank, the EU, Islamic Development Bank, UK, and also what is very key is farm organizations because it is about them, it is for them, it must be with them.

“And so they are here with us, and we are happy to have the private sector and different ministries, departments and agencies together with us, and we appreciate the role of the media in ensuring that this effort that we are doing collectively is communicated to the population, especially to the farmers, so that they key in also, because they will be a game-changer for having a strong, updated and sustainable national digital farmer registry, which will be about the farmers, in and which land they are using and the crop.

“So we are very happy to key in and salute the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security leadership in line with the Renew Hope agenda in this effort to put in place a partnership initiative such as the one that has been officially launched today”, she added.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi said the harmonized farmers’ registry would help in planning, research, interventions, productivity, assessment, and other positive developments in the agricultural sector.

Ogunbiyi who spoke passionately about the innovation that would galvanize the sector, explained that the G2P Card will enable farmers to have direct access to farm inputs, interventions, extension services, and financial inclusion seamlessly.

According to him, digital identity is not just as a technological solution, but to serve as a catalyst for farmers’ empowerment.

He also acknowledged and commended IFAD’s longstanding commitment to smallholder farmers, its technical expertise, and its strategic investments in rural development, saying they have been instrumental in bridging capacity gaps, enhancing digital inclusion, and strengthening the resilience of our food systems.

Therefore, the Permanent Secretary pointed out that the Digital Farmers’ Registry implementation and sustainability will be of immense benefits from such partnerships in technical design, knowledge transfer, institutional capacity-building, and inclusive governance mechanisms.

Adding that the Ministry’s collaboration with IFAD and similar institutions ensures that the registry is not just a database, but a living tool aligned with global best practices and tailored to local realities.

He said: “As we are all aware, agriculture remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy — not just in terms of employment and livelihoods, but also in its potential to drive food security, industrial development, and export revenue. Yet, for far too long, our efforts to transform the sector have been hampered by a lack of reliable data, especially on the key actors — our farmers.

“The Digital National Farmers’ Registry is designed to address this gap. It is a transformative initiative that seeks to capture accurate, real-time, and geo-referenced data on farmers across the country — disaggregated by location, commodity, scale of production, gender, and age. This registry is not just a database, it is more than a database; it is a strategic tool for promoting inclusion, transparency, and measurable impact.

“It is the foundation for evidence-based planning, targeted intervention, inclusive policymaking, and accountability in the agricultural ecosystem. It allows us to identify and reach real farmers with the right support, eliminate inefficiencies, and ensure that resources are aligned with national priorities. A reliable and up-to-date Farmers’ Registry is therefore fundamental to effective planning, precise targeting, and efficient delivery of agricultural interventions.

“With a credible farmers’ registry, we can ensure that inputs reach the intended beneficiaries; that support programmes are tailored to the actual needs of our farmers, and that government interventions yield the desired impact. Moreover, it will empower financial institutions, agribusinesses, insurers, and other stakeholders to engage with our farmers with clarity, confidence, and precision.

“In recognition of this, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has taken decisive steps to transform our approach to farmer data management. Chief among these is our strategic partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to implement a far-reaching Farmer Registration and Database Project. At the heart of this initiative is the integration of the National Identification Number (NIN), which ensures that every Nigerian farmer is uniquely identified and seamlessly integrated into a national agricultural system.

“Moreover, the registration process involves geo-tagging farmers to their farmlands, a feature that enhances traceability, planning, and monitoring. This bold move marks a major milestone in our efforts to improve transparency, eliminate ghost beneficiaries, and deliver effective government-to-people (G2P) services.

“In practical terms, we are digitising and harmonising farmer data across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. By linking farmers to a government-to-people (G2P) Card, will enable direct access to inputs, interventions, extension services, and financial inclusion. Importantly, we see digital identity not just as a technological solution, but as a catalyst for empowerment—one that opens doors to credit, insurance, climate-smart technologies, and market opportunities.”

He also disclosed that the Ministry had also as part of its digital farmer friendly programme of the Ministry, in March 2025, developed and launched the National Electronic Extension Platform, NEEP, basically, as a digital initiative aimed at improving agricultural service delivery, boosting productivity, and strengthening connections between research institutions and farmers.

Meanwhile, he said, “To complement this effort, the Ministry is also developing the National Agricultural Data Management and Information System (NADM IS). This centralised platform is designed to harmonise and integrate agricultural data across all departments, programmes, and projects. Once operational, NADMIS will serve as a unified, interoperable system to improve planning, coordination, and responsiveness across the agricultural sector.

“Indeed, this database is not merely a list of names and numbers. It is a dynamic instrument for inclusive agricultural governance. It will enable us to design and implement targeted interventions for smallholders, women, youth, and other vulnerable groups, ensuring that no one is left behind in our pursuit of sustainable development.

“Therefore, today’s policy dialogue is both timely and strategic. It provides us with a valuable opportunity to reflect on our progress, identify policy and operational gaps, and build consensus around the institutional frameworks required to sustain and scale these initiatives. Our collective efforts here will directly contribute to achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

“Achieving this ambitious vision requires more than just good intentions or even government effort alone — it demands robust, strategic, and sustained collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.

“We must also deepen our collaboration with local governments, farmer cooperatives, financial institutions, telecom providers, and civil society actors to ensure last-mile data collection and the full integration of rural farmers into the national agricultural landscape.”

The Country Director, Heifer International in Nigeria, Dr Lekan Tobe, also delivered a remark at the official launch of the Policy Dialogue Initiative on the National Digital Farmer Registry, emphasizing the critical role of partnership and data in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Dr. Tobe highlighted the federal government’s proactive steps in recognizing the importance of a national digital farmer registry. He underscored that this initiative, born from recommendations of previous policy dialogues organized in collaboration with the federal government, aims to scale up innovative digital technology to enhance food systems across the country.

He stressed the registry’s significance as “a critical step towards enabling targeted, efficient, and transparent service delivery to farmers by consolidating farmer data, improving traceability, and enhancing access to digital services.”

He affirmed that the success of this initiative is dependent on the commitment, input, and guidance of all stakeholders in support of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, who are leading the process.

He detailed how a robust national digital farmer registry would support appropriate decision-making and human-centered policies, facilitate equitable distribution of agricultural solutions, improve coordination among food system actors, and enhance innovation such as precision agriculture, mechanization, and access to finance. He noted that while progress has been made, challenges like fragmented databases, inadequate digital infrastructure in rural areas, and low digital literacy persist.

Dr. Tobe emphasized that the initiative aligns with the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), aiming to foster a conducive policy and investment environment for the registry. He outlined three key objectives for the policy dialogue initiative: strengthening stakeholder capacity, developing strategic recommendations for partnership, and facilitating the launch of a multi-stakeholder platform.

He also presented a clear roadmap for the initiative, which includes identifying global best practices, engaging relevant stakeholders, building capacity, and conducting high-level roundtable engagements. Key deliverables include reports on best practices and assessments of existing registries, strategic recommendations, and the launch of the multi-stakeholder platform.

In conclusion, Dr. Tobe stressed the registry’s significance as “a critical step towards enabling targeted, efficient, and transparent service delivery to farmers by consolidating farmer data, improving traceability, and enhancing access to digital services.”

He also affirmed that the success of this initiative is dependent on the commitment, input, and guidance of all stakeholders in support of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, who are leading the process.