The National Agricultural Development Fund has commenced distribution of 100,800 bags of fully subsidized fertilizer to 25,200 smallholder farmers across Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Jigawa states as the North-West phase of a nationwide program targeting 515,720 bags for 128,930 farmers across the federation, with each beneficiary receiving four bags and each participating state allocated 20,160 bags identified through state governments and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria.
Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari, speaking at the flag-off in Katsina, said the intervention demonstrated the federal government’s commitment to strengthening food security and supporting smallholder farmers under the State of Emergency on Food Security declared by President Tinubu, and that sustained agricultural investment at the grassroots was critical to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and achieving long-term food sovereignty.
NADF Executive Secretary Mohammed Abu Ibrahim said accountability mechanisms had been embedded in the distribution process, with all fertilizers locally produced, traceable, and clearly marked not for sale to prevent diversion from genuine farming households. He said the fund would deploy more than 1,800 extension advisory workers nationwide to provide technical guidance, improve agronomic practices, and enhance productivity across agricultural value chains.
He also highlighted concurrent interventions in the North-West including support for ginger farmers affected by blight in Kaduna State and assistance to onion farmers impacted by flooding in Kebbi and Sokoto states, describing the program as part of a comprehensive support framework for agricultural communities facing multiple simultaneous challenges in the 2026 planting season.
