The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has commenced distributing 80,640 bags of free fertiliser to 20,160 smallholder farmers in the South-South geopolitical zone.

The initiative was under the fund’s Farm Input Support Programme (FISP), which reinforces the federal government’s commitment to boost agricultural productivity, reduce production costs and strengthen national food security.

Executive Secretary of the NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

He was represented by the NADF’s head of investment department, Olalekan Alabi.

During the unveiling, which took place in Calabar on Saturday, Mr Ibrahim identified the benefiting states as Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Edo.

He described the intervention as a demonstration of commitment to agriculture by President Bola Tinubu under his Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The FISP is a targeted intervention designed to ensure fertiliser reaches verified farmers cultivating priority food crops at the right time, rather than serving as a general distribution exercise.

“It is a targeted support designed to get fertiliser to the right farmers, for the right crops and at the right time.

“Agriculture should be measured by higher yields, improved market access and the impact it makes on people’s lives,

“We are distributing 515,720 bags of fertiliser nationwide, but under the South-South. Each participating state will receive 20,160 bags for 5,040 registered farmers, with every beneficiary receiving four bags,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim said that all fertiliser supplied under the programme was manufactured in Nigeria, fully subsidised, traceable and clearly marked “Not for Sale” to prevent diversion.

According to him, every bag is linked to a verified beneficiary through validation, duplication screening and proper documentation, while monitoring and evaluation partners will assess productivity after the farming season.

He said that the fund would deploy over 1,800 Extension Advisory Workers nationwide next month, with 30 officers assigned to each state.

According to him, the NADF is finalising a harmonised fertiliser recommendations manual for crops in Nigeria to provide farmers with scientifically backed fertiliser application guidelines.

He quoted Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, as saying that the intervention demonstrated the federal government’s determination to close Nigeria’s agricultural productivity gap.

Represented by the ministry’s state coordinator, Sampson George, he identified the initiative as “one programme delivers three gains: support for the farmer, increased demand for local fertiliser producers and improved food security for the nation.”

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River commended the federal government and the NADF for prioritising smallholder farmers, describing them as the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural economy.

Represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, Mr Otu said the intervention aligned with the state’s People First Agenda.

Mr Otu assured that he would ensure transparency in the distribution process to ensure every bag reached genuine beneficiaries.

Johnson Ebokpo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development in the state, said the programme complemented the state’s agricultural development initiatives.

He identified such initiatives as distribution of subsidised mini tractors, improved seedlings, quality seeds and farmer capacity-building programmes.

(NAN)