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By Daniel Adaji
The Federal Government has entered into a partnership with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) to boost fertilizer availability, strengthen soil health, and advance food and nutrition security in Nigeria.
The collaboration, unveiled during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Africa Food System Forum held recently in Dakar, Senegal, brings together the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and the IFDC to improve fertilizer access and tackle challenges in the agricultural input market.
In a statement on Wednesday, the minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the initiative would ensure “technical assistance for data-driven fertilizer recommendations, support for local blending capacity, initiatives to curb adulteration in the input supply chain, improve soil health among others.”
He emphasised the importance of strengthening input markets, expanding last-mile delivery systems, and promoting climate-smart soil fertility practices for smallholder farmers. According to him, the ministry has already introduced the Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS), which he described as a “groundbreaking initiative” designed to provide fertilizer recommendations tailored to specific crops and locations.
Kyari added that “a stronger partnership with IFDC will help improve soil health, ensure quality inputs reach farmers on time, and advance food security in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda in the Agriculture sector.”
The minister stressed that interventions must prioritise affordability, quality assurance, and timely delivery, particularly in staple crop belts. He linked the initiative to broader government programs aimed at raising productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
On his part, IFDC President and Chief Executive Officer, Henk Van Deepen, said the partnership would “strengthen private-sector distribution networks, targeted soil testing, balanced nutrient use, farmer training on good agronomic practices, and evidence-based policies that support competitive and transparent input markets.”