By Faridat Salifu
The National Agricultural Development Fund has begun consultations with agro-processors to refine the design and delivery of its Farm Input Supply Programme ahead of the upcoming planting season.
The engagement followed a review of the pilot phase of the programme, which was implemented to ease farmers’ access to critical inputs.
Roundtable discussions were held recently simultaneously in Lagos and Kano States, bringing together processors from southern and northern Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, was represented at the sessions by Abiodun Sosanya, General Manager, Corporate Services, in Lagos, and Nasir Ingawa, General Manager, Partnerships and Investor Relations, in Kano.
Representing Ibrahim, both officials said the programme was created to tackle one of the most persistent challenges facing Nigerian agriculture.
They described the programme as a strategic intervention aimed at improving access to inputs, raising productivity and supporting rural livelihoods through out-grower arrangements.
NADF acknowledged that the pilot phase encountered operational setbacks, including logistics delays and the impact of climate variability.
The fund said the review process was intended to draw lessons from those challenges and improve coordination, timelines and quality control in the next phase.
Agro-processors at the meeting expressed support for the programme’s objectives and subsidy framework, noting their relevance to farmers.
However, participants raised concerns over logistics bottlenecks, shifting import policies and declining commodity prices, which they said could undermine farmer profitability and loan repayment.
They urged stronger stakeholder engagement and closer policy alignment to safeguard the programme’s sustainability.
NADF said feedback from the consultations would inform a more efficient, transparent and climate-responsive second phase, in line with national efforts to boost food security and agricultural productivity.
