By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE National Agricultural Development Fund, NADF, has continued its intervention in fertilizer distribution as 25,200 smallholder farmers in North-West region received N100,800 bags of fertilizer under the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme, FISP.

The benefiting smallholder farmers are from Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Jigawa States, which the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, during the flag-off ceremony in Katsina, explained that the intervention is an initiative designed to ameliorate the plight of smallholder farmers in terms of cost reduction on inputs, enable them have access to quality farm inputs, and help them boost food production in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The event was attended by senior government officials, including representatives of the governors of Kaduna and Jigawa states, ministers, lawmakers and key stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

He said each beneficiary farmer will receive four bags of fully subsidised fertiliser, while each participating state will receive 20,160 bags for distribution to 5,040 farmers identified through state governments and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).

Meanwhile, Ibrahim, explained that NADF’s North-West intervention basically forms part of a nationwide programme that will facilitate the distribution of 515,720 bags of fertiliser to 128,930 smallholder farmers across the country.

He also reiterated that the fertilisers are locally produced, traceable and clearly marked “Not for Sale” to prevent diversion. Meanwhile the NADF boss disclosed that that NADF has also concluded plans to deploy over 1,800 extension advisory workers nationwide to support farmers with technical guidance and best practices.

He also spoken extensively on the ongoing interventions by NADF in the region – support for over 5,000 ginger farmers affected by blight in Kaduna State and assistance to flood-affected onion farmers in Kebbi and Sokoto States.

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, commended President Tinubu for place food security as one of topmost priorities of his administration.

Radda also described the fertiliser support programme as a strategic intervention aimed at increasing productivity and strengthening food security across the states and LGs.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the programme demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting smallholder farmers while boosting local fertiliser production.

He noted that the intervention aligns with the State of Emergency on Food Security declared by President Tinubu and is expected to contribute to increased agricultural output, job creation and improved food security nationwide.