The National Agricultural Development Fund presented Nigeria's first harmonised national fertiliser recommendation manual in more than a decade to Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari in Abuja on May 22, 2026. The Harmonised Fertiliser Recommendations for Nigeria, 2026 Edition, was developed in partnership with the Farm Input Support Services and marks the first update to the country's official fertiliser guidance since 2012.
The Gap It Fills
The last official fertiliser recommendation guide was produced in 2012 by the then Fertiliser Procurement and Distribution Department, now operating as FISS. The absence of updated fertiliser guidelines over the years contributed to poor nutrient management practices, reduced yields, and declining soil fertility across farming communities. Farmers lacked proper guidance on fertiliser application rates, timing and nutrient management, which affected productivity and reduced returns on both private and public investments in fertiliser subsidies. The Nation
Without a national framework, farmers across different soil types and agroecological zones have been applying fertiliser based on outdated guidance, habit, or seller recommendation, often using the wrong product, wrong rate, or wrong timing for their specific conditions.
What the Manual Covers
The first edition covers five strategic crops: maize, rice, wheat, cassava, and cowpea. Plans are already underway to extend the recommendations to other crops. The manual was developed through a series of technical workshops and validations from June 2025 through February 2026, involving research institutes and agricultural stakeholders, before an editorial committee finalised the document. Businessday NG
The initiative brought together FISS, the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria, OCP Group, and the International Fertilizer Development Center to develop scientifically validated fertiliser recommendations tailored to Nigeria's farming conditions. The Sun Nigeria
Why Fertiliser Was Prioritised
NADF Executive Secretary Mohammed Ibrahim noted that the manual was released as the first phase of a broader national input application guide covering all crops and farm inputs. He stated that fertiliser was selected as the starting point because it is the most commercially significant and technically demanding input in Nigerian agriculture. New Telegraph
The Economic Stakes
Nigeria spends billions of naira annually on fertiliser subsidies at both federal and state level. Without standardised application guidance, a significant portion of that investment is misapplied. The new manual translates scientific soil research into practical, farmer-accessible guidance that extension workers can carry to the field, matching nutrient recommendations to crop type, soil zone, and season.
FoodPrices Nigeria tracks prices for maize, rice, cassava, and cowpea across Lagos markets. Improved fertiliser application efficiency, if it reaches smallholder farmers ahead of the 2026 wet season, should register in higher yields and more stable supply chain prices.