The Federal Government has flagged off the distribution of free fertiliser to 20,160 farmers across the South-West under its Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme, with the launch held in Ado-Ekiti ahead of the 2026 wet farming season, according to Arise News. The intervention is implemented through the National Agricultural Development Fund.
Targeted, Not Scattered
The Executive Secretary of the fund, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, said the programme was designed to get fertiliser to the right farmers, for the right crops, at the right time, rather than distribution for its own sake, the Arise News report noted. He said the support targets growers cultivating priority crops critical to food production and market stability.
Built to Curb Diversion
All fertilisers handed out under the programme were locally produced, traceable and clearly branded "Not For Sale" to prevent resale, with each bag linked to verified beneficiaries to promote transparency, Ibrahim said in the Arise News account. The President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Muhammad Magaji, described the intervention as timely and impactful, saying it would cut production costs for smallholder farmers and lift yields. Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, represented at the launch, called the support a timely boost to productivity across the region.
Lower input costs at planting tend to show up as steadier supply at harvest. FoodPrices Nigeria tracks verified food prices across Lagos markets, where the results of this season's planting in the South-West will eventually reach the shopper.