The Federal Government, through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), has launched a N1.5 billion pilot scheme to cultivate 1,500 hectares of farmland to empower at least 1,500 smallholder farmers under the first phase of the National Agricultural Development Programme (NADP-1).
The launching of the scheme, in partnership with Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) and NOVA Merchant Bank, was marked with the maiden disbursement of funds to the farmers under NADF’s on-lending facility.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, described the initiative as strategic to advancing inclusive agricultural financing and revitalising Nigeria’s food production system.
He said: “This programme demonstrates that smallholder farmers can be engaged in a profitable and sustainable way. Through aggregation, value chain partnerships, and strategic financing, we can transform agriculture into a viable engine for national development.”
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The NADF’s Executive Secretary explained that the pilot project was designed to strengthen critical value chains and increase productivity across selected crops by ensuring farmers gain access to essential inputs, mechanisation services, and markets.
Speaking at the forum, a representative of the Managing Director, FMN Agro, Sadiq Usman, highlighted the importance of a productive agricultural sector in industrial transformation, citing the example of maize cultivation in Kaduna State which, he said, would serve as the take-off point for the programme,
Usman, who pointed out the interconnectedness between farming and agro-processing, maintained that a factory without a farm is scrap metal, and a farm without a factory is just wheat.
He said: “Kaduna produces 20% of Nigeria’s maize and is home to highly productive farmers. It’s a perfect ground for demonstrating how better seeds, nutrition, and agronomy practices can boost yields.”
The agriculturist clarified that the initiative aligned with his company’s goal of building resilient supply chains and enhancing profitability for farmers, saying that the partnership goes beyond input distribution to encompass the entire production-to-market cycle.
Also, the Group Head of Corporate Banking at NOVA Merchant Bank, Uzoma Ayonmike, expressed confidence in the impact of the programme on Nigeria’s broader economic growth.
He said: “Agriculture is a cornerstone of national growth. We are proud to be the first financial institution to disburse under the NADF pilot phase. This partnership is not just a transaction. It is a step toward food security, economic inclusion, and sustainable national progress.”
According to the management of the NADF, maize, cassava, rice, soybean, and sorghum are the primary crops targeted for intervention due to their strategic importance in Nigeria’s food and manufacturing ecosystems.
In addition, it disclosed that programme also incorporated support for mechanisation, access to quality inputs, and structured market linkages, thereby making it a comprehensive approach to tackling persistent bottlenecks in Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.
