The federal government has launched the distribution of 80,640 bags of free fertiliser to 20,160 smallholder farmers across the South-West geopolitical zone under its agricultural support programme aimed at boosting food production in the 2026 wet farming season.
The intervention, unveiled in Ado-Ekiti, is part of the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme (FISP), designed to reduce production costs, improve yields and strengthen Nigeria’s food security framework.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, said the initiative was a targeted intervention to ensure that inputs reach genuine farmers at the right time and for the right purpose.
“This is not fertiliser distribution for the sake of distribution. It is targeted support designed to get fertiliser to the right farmers, for the right crops, at the right time,” he said.
Ibrahim said the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agricultural transformation and food security agenda, noting that the intervention was structured to reflect the comparative advantages of participating states.
He added that beneficiaries would receive support tailored to priority crops critical to food production and market stability.
He further disclosed that all fertilisers distributed under the scheme are locally produced, traceable and clearly marked “Not For Sale,” adding that each bag is linked to verified farmers to ensure transparency and prevent diversion.
Representing Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, described the initiative as timely and strategic, saying it would enhance agricultural productivity and support economic growth efforts in the state.
She commended the federal government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and NADF for implementing practical interventions that directly support farmers and strengthen collaboration with state governments.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the programme forms part of broader efforts to reduce production costs, increase output and achieve sustainable food security across the country.
Also speaking, the president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Muhammad Magaji, described the intervention as impactful, noting that it would ease financial burdens on farmers and improve agricultural yields.
The programme is expected to support thousands of smallholder farmers ahead of the 2026 farming cycle and deepen government efforts toward agricultural self-sufficiency.
