Mohammed Abu Ibrahim of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has held a stakeholders’ meeting ahead of the flag-off of the Farm Inputs Support Programme (FISP), described as a flagship national economic and social impact intervention aimed at cushioning the effect of rising input costs on farmers across the country.
The meeting, held at the NADF headquarters in Abuja, brought together farmer groups, security agencies and other agricultural stakeholders expected to play key roles in the implementation of the programme across 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the session, the Executive Secretary of National Agricultural Development Fund, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the intervention was conceived in response to the severe pressure facing farmers, especially smallholders battling the increasing cost of fertilizer, seeds and other essential inputs.
“What we are here to do is to inaugurate the Stakeholders Committee for the Farm Inputs Support Programme,” he said. “The rising cost of farm inputs is one of the major challenges confronting our farmers. Through this programme, we hope to provide support to about 128,930 farmers across 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory.”
He noted that NADF remained open to collaboration and advice from industry players to ensure effective delivery and accountability.
“This is not just an NADF programme; it is a Nigerian project,” he added. “Please criticize us where necessary, tell us where we can improve, advise us, and work with us so that together we can deliver impact.”
The Executive Secretary disclosed that the Fund had earlier conducted a pilot phase of the intervention for agro-processors last year before expanding the initiative to target smallholder farmers now hardest hit by prevailing market realities.
Also speaking, the President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Muhammad Magaji, pledged the association’s support for the programme and stressed the need for transparency in the distribution process.
“We have repeatedly advised our members that there must be absolutely no diversion of inputs under this programme,” he said. “If a farmer’s name appears under AFAN, such a person should not also appear under the Ministry of Agriculture list. Any duplication will be removed.”
He said the association had already started screening beneficiary lists to eliminate duplicate entries, invalid identification details and other irregularities.
According to him, the intervention comes at a critical time when many farmers are struggling to remain in production because of rising costs.
“Today, a farmer may need to sell two or three bags of maize just to buy one bag of fertilizer,” he said. “That is why many farmers were already considering abandoning farming this season. However, once news of this programme began circulating, many farmers started expressing renewed interest in returning to farming.”
The AFAN president urged NADF to commence implementation immediately after the Sallah celebrations, noting that delays could affect the current farming season.
