From Okwe Obi, Abuja
To fast-track food sovereignty, the Federal Government and the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) have struck a deal to ensure the availability and affordability of fertiliser.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, who disclosed this yesterday at a meeting with IFDC officials at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Senegal, stated that the collaboration would ensure technical assistance for data-driven fertiliser recommendations, support for local blending capacity, and initiatives to curb adulteration in the input supply chain.
Kyari pointed out that there was a need to strengthen input markets, expand last-mile delivery systems, and scale climate-smart soil fertility practices for smallholder farmers.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1718806029429-0’); });
The minister, in a statement by the Head of the Information Department, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, recalled how the government introduced the Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS), designed to transform the agricultural landscape of Nigeria and to provide fertiliser recommendations tailored to specific crops and locations.
According to him, 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.
Also, he maintained that there should be interventions that prioritise affordability, quality assurance, and timely delivery to farmers, especially in staple crop belts.
IFDC President and Chief Executive Officer Henk van Duijn, on his part, stated that 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.
The highlight of the event was the understanding of setting up a Technical Committee that will work on the details of the collaboration.
The post Food sovereignty: Nigeria, IFDC seal deal to boost fertiliser access appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
