The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), says the Federal Government’s fertiliser intervention is already reducing the cost of farm inputs and encouraging more farmers to cultivate during the current wet season.
Speaking during the distribution of subsidised fertilisers to farmers in Gombe, the National President of the association, Magaji Gettado, described the initiative as timely, stressing that agriculture is time-sensitive and that inputs must reach farmers when they are most needed to maximise yields.
Gettado explained that under the programme, AFAN was tasked with providing a list of 3,040 farmers in each participating state, while state governments, through their Ministries of Agriculture, were required to nominate an additional 2,000 beneficiaries.
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According to him, Gombe State completed the selection process in March and April, with the list subsequently validated by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which is supporting the intervention.
Gettado noted that the distribution of four bags of fertiliser to each eligible smallholder farmer would significantly improve productivity and strengthen livelihoods.
He said the intervention had already influenced fertiliser prices across the country, explaining that before the programme commenced, a bag of urea sold for between ₦50,000 and ₦60,000, while NPK fertiliser also attracted similar prices.
However, he said the announcement and commencement of the subsidised fertiliser distribution compelled private dealers to reduce their prices.
“Today, fertiliser is selling for between ₦34,000 and ₦35,000 per bag in many markets. This shows the programme is already making a positive impact on the market,” Gettado said.
The AFAN President added that the lower cost of inputs had also persuaded many farmers, who had initially planned to abandon farming because of poor returns from last year’s harvest, to return to their fields.
He said the intervention was specifically designed for smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, expressing confidence that it would contribute significantly to increased food production and national food security.
Gettado disclosed that the current phase of the programme targets about 129,000 beneficiaries nationwide, adding that additional phases are already underway through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
He expressed optimism that the continued implementation of the intervention would further enhance agricultural productivity and support the Federal Government’s efforts to improve food security across the country.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Gombe State Chapter, Mr Modibbo Sadiq, expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, saying that never before had such a large number of smallholder farmers received free fertiliser.
“He did this to support smallholder farmers, with 5,400 beneficiaries in each state. This initiative has already transformed the farm input market. Since the distribution of the fertiliser began in the participating states, fertiliser prices have fallen significantly, benefiting not only farmers but the wider community as well,” Mr. Sadiq said.
He noted that the free distribution of four bags of fertiliser to each beneficiary had encouraged many people who had previously abandoned farming to return to agricultural production.
Also speaking, the Treasurer of AFAN in Kaltungo Local Government Area, Mr. Rabilu Husseini, commended both the Federal and Gombe State Governments for the quality and quantity of the fertiliser distributed free of charge.
Mr. Husseini said that, based on available records, farmers had not witnessed such a large-scale distribution of high-quality fertiliser since 2007.
Speaking on behalf of the 11 AFAN Local Government Chairmen in Gombe State, he expressed heartfelt appreciation to President Tinubu, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the leadership of AFAN for the intervention, pledging that both male and female farmers would embrace farming with renewed confidence.
