The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has commenced the distribution of 100,800 bags of fertiliser to 25,200 smallholder farmers in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Jigawa states.

The NADF executive secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying the intervention is being implemented under the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme (FISP).

According to him, the programme aims to reduce production costs, improve access to quality farm inputs and boost food production in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Mr Ibrahim said each beneficiary farmer would receive four bags of fully subsidised fertiliser, while each participating state would receive 20,160 bags for distribution to 5,040 farmers.

He said beneficiaries were identified through state governments and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) to ensure transparent and targeted distribution.

The executive secretary explained that the North-West intervention forms part of a nationwide programme that covers 128,930 smallholder farmers and provides 515,720 bags of fertiliser.

He added that NADF had concluded plans to deploy more than 1,800 extension advisory workers nationwide to provide farmers with technical support and best-practice guidance.

Mr Ibrahim said the NADF was also supporting over 5,000 ginger farmers in Kaduna affected by blight and assisting flood-affected onion farmers in Kebbi and Sokoto states.

He noted that the interventions underscore the federal government’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity, creating jobs and strengthening food security across the country.

(NAN)