By Atoyebi Nike
The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) is reviewing its Farm Input Supply Programme. The goal is to improve delivery systems and boost agricultural productivity across Nigeria.
The review was the focus of a roundtable in Lagos. Participants examined lessons from the pilot phase and proposed ways to make the second phase more efficient.
NADF Executive Secretary Mohammed Ibrahim said the Fund wants to strengthen its interventions. He noted that operational challenges during the pilot phase affected planting schedules and yields.
Represented by Head of Corporate Services Abiodun Sosanya, Ibrahim said the Fund is working closely with processors. They aim to improve accountability, coordination, and efficiency. Feedback from industry players will guide a more transparent and sustainable second phase.
Stakeholders welcomed the initiative. Femi Ojelade, CEO of Vemac Farms, stressed stronger collaboration among government, processors, and smallholder farmers. Timely delivery of inputs before planting is critical.
Aroge Temitope, Managing Director of Arog Bio Allied Agro Services, called the programme key for food security and rural wealth creation. His company used the NADF Agro 1.0 scheme to cultivate cassava for 2025 and 2026 across Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti states, supporting its outgrower network.
Adebanke Fajana, NADF Head of Strategy and Planning, said the second phase, Agro 2.0, aims to reach five million smallholder farmers. The Fund will use private-sector processors to distribute inputs while strengthening coordination.
Fajana added that NADF monitors input use and cultivation progress. This ensures inputs translate into measurable productivity gains. The approach promotes proper use, maximizes yields, and delivers sustainable impact across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
