By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE Federal Government, has disclosed providing subsidized inputs and stabilizing high food prices with various intervention policies.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, stated this at the Ministerial Policy Dialogue held during the Nigeria Public Relations Week in Kaduna with the theme, ‘Nigeria’s Food Security: From Policy Paper to Public Plates; The Imperatives of Public Relations’, where Kyari said the Tinubu-led administration is focusing on addressing food inflation, affordability and accessibility issues.

According the Minister who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund, NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, food prices are reducing due to some basic interventions emanating from government’s decision including reduction of import tariffs on key agricultural inputs and commodities.

He further stated that government is vigorously pursuing policies that at the same time provide the needed protection of farmers in terms of food production and also strengthen it in terms of sustainability, via the support given to farmers and agro-processors.

He said: “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,” he added.

“Food security today is not just about agriculture. Clear communication, shaping narratives and influencing policy are equally important in building trust and ensuring impact.”

Meanwhile, speaking on current inflation trends, the Minister’s representative, Ibrahim said food inflation dropped to about 14 per cent compared to 25 per cent recorded in the same period in 2025, “Food prices are beginning to abate, although challenges remain, particularly around the high cost of inputs. Farmers are still feeling the pressure”, he noted.

He continued, “To address these challenges, the government is implementing measures to liberalise mechanisation, improve access to inputs and deliver targeted support to farmers across key value chains.

“These interventions are beginning to yield results, and we expect inflation to continue on a downward trajectory.”

As the Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Development Fund, NADF, Ibrahim, in his goodwill message, said central to the government’s strategy is the role of the NADF, which is driving financing, policy implementation and institutional support across the sector.

He highlighted some of NADF’s core functions, including; strengthening food production across crops, livestock, fisheries and agro-forestry, as well as providing concessional financing to farmers and agribusinesses.

Also, NADF funds agricultural research, training and extension services, establishing state-level agricultural offices, and supporting emergency interventions for disease outbreaks, input shortages, and others.

According to the NADF boss, his agency is working to expand rural financial inclusion by linking farmers with formal financial institutions and collaborating with international donor agencies to boost productivity.

Meanwhile, he explained that with NADF’s interventions, thousands of farmers has been supported across the country – over 5,000 farmers in Kaduna, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory. benefited from NADF’s Ginger Recovery, Advancement and Transformation for Economy Empowerment, GRATE, Initiative.

Also, 50,000 smallholder farmers across the six geopolitical zones had been reached benefitted with its Farm Input Support Programme, FISP, has reached, who received 75 per cent subsidy on seeds, fertilisers and crop protection products.

Over 2,000 onion farmers affected by crises in Sokoto, Yobe, Borno and Kebbi states received emergency support delivered to them by NADF.

Meanwhile, he disclosed that ahead of the 2026 wet season, NADF is scaling up its fertiliser support programme under Renewed Hope Fertilizer Support Programme, which 127,000 farmers will be reached in 25 states and the FCT.

On financing, the Fund is said to have mobilised billions of Naira through partnerships with various state governments and financial institutions to facilitate and execute large-scale agricultural projects – N1.14 billion investment in ginger production in Kaduna State; N5 billion co-financing arrangement with the Niger State Government for rice and maize cultivation; and multiple on-lending facilities to banks supporting fertiliser production, rice processing and cassava value chains.

He made it known that using the Fund’s blended finance model it has significantly attracted additional private sector investment while reducing borrowing costs for agribusinesses and had expanded access to credit, and example is its partnership with Psaltry International, IDH and a Foundation, wherewith 15,000 young women in cassava cultivation in Oyo State has received empowerment.

NADF is also currently collaborates with states such as Cross River, Jigawa and Katsina to develop risk-sharing mechanisms that will improve access to agricultural financing.

He (Ibrahim) stressed interventions are geared towards achieving food sovereignty and long-term food security in Nigeria.

He said: “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.”

Participants at the dialogue also agreed that although progress has been achieved in curbing food inflation, maintaining momentum will require continued investment, consistent policies, and clear communication to strengthen gains and foster public confidence in the sector.