The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of free fertiliser to more than 20,000 registered smallholder farmers in Nigeria’s South-East as part of efforts to increase food production ahead of the 2026 wet farming season.
The support is being provided under the Farm Input Support Programme (FISP), an initiative of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) aimed at helping farmers reduce production costs while improving crop yields.
The South-East rollout was officially launched in Owerri, Imo State, where government officials announced that 20,160 farmers across Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states will benefit from the programme.
80,640 Bags of Fertiliser for Farmers
According to the Federal Government, a total of 80,640 bags of fertiliser will be distributed to eligible beneficiaries during the exercise.
The intervention is expected to help farmers prepare for the upcoming planting season by improving access to essential farm inputs that many small-scale farmers often struggle to afford.
Officials say the programme is also expected to contribute to increased food production and help ease pressure on food prices across the country.
Government Explains the Goal of the Programme
Speaking during the launch, the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the initiative was created to strengthen agricultural productivity while supporting Nigeria’s food security efforts.
Represented by the Fund’s General Manager of Technical Services, Ernest Ihedigbo, Ibrahim explained that the programme is intended to:
- Reduce the cost of farming for smallholder farmers.
- Improve crop productivity and harvests.
- Support local fertiliser manufacturers.
- Strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
- Create more jobs within the agricultural sector.
He noted that increasing access to farm inputs remains one of the key ways to improve agricultural output across the country.
Partnership to Ensure Transparent Distribution
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security said the fertiliser distribution will be carried out through a partnership involving the affected state governments, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the National Agricultural Development Fund.
Officials believe the collaboration will help ensure that the fertiliser reaches verified beneficiaries and is used for farming purposes.
The Imo State Government also encouraged recipients to make proper use of the fertiliser to improve harvests, increase incomes and support rural economic growth.
Who Can Benefit?
The current phase of the programme is targeted at registered smallholder farmers in:
- Imo State
- Anambra State
- Enugu State
- Ebonyi State
Beneficiaries were selected through the programme’s registration process in collaboration with relevant agricultural stakeholders.
More Agricultural Support Expected
The launch of the South-East phase forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to support farmers across Nigeria through input interventions designed to improve food production and strengthen national food security.
As preparations for the 2026 farming season continue, similar agricultural support initiatives are expected to be rolled out in other parts of the country.
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