From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The federal government, through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), has launched a digital Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) platform to oversee the rollout of its N19.5bn AgGrow Farm Support Programme.
The government said the initiative, which was unveiled yesterday in Abuja, will provide 50% subsidies on seeds, fertilisers, and crop protection products (CPPs) to 50,000 smallholder farmers in the maize, rice, cassava, and soya bean value chains across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
NADF Executive Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, described the platform as a game-changer.
“This platform ensures that every seed, every input, and every naira invested is properly tracked from distribution to usage, so that we can keep learning, improving, and delivering results aligned with national priorities,” he said.
According to him, the AgGrow scheme connects farmers directly to processors through structured outgrower arrangements. NADF will fully finance the inputs, and processors will repay half the value after harvest.
He explained that this approach aims to close the gap between farmers and processors, reduce reliance on middlemen, and improve raw material sourcing for the agro-processing sector.
Ibrahim emphasised the importance of transparency and efficiency in the project, stating, “We have gone to great lengths to create a framework and software to enhance the quality of our M&E, knowing that end-to-end supervision of the project is crucial for us as a Fund.”
He added, “You will be our eyes and ears in all the corners of the nation you’re posted to. You will play a vital role in implementing this scheme, leveraging the NADF M&E Platform to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and inform decision-making.”
He noted that to ensure accountability, all participating farmers must be registered with a Bank Verification Number or National Identity Number. Their farms will be geo-tagged and biometrically verified. Weekly reports, third-party audits, and strict compliance measures will ensure that the inputs are properly used and results are tracked.
“We want to build farmers’ capacities so they get better yields and bigger returns,” Ibrahim said, noting that the digital platform will also support advisory services and extension training on best farming practices.
The Executive Secretary also issued a clear warning: “We will not hesitate to de-board and prosecute any consultant falling short of the standards of efficiency, honesty, and integrity. As such, we urge all to eschew fraud and collusion with other stakeholders. Let’s work together to make a lasting impact in our nation.”
He pointed out that the programme is inclusive by design: 40% of the beneficiaries will be women and 20% youth. Crop insurance is also part of the package, aimed at protecting farmers’ investments from climate-related risks.
A representative of the M&E partners, Olusola Omole, said, “There hasn’t been a time when M&E vendors were brought together like this to align on expectations and targets. This is a new beginning, and we believe it will empower us to deliver results that truly benefit the farmers and processors.”
The CEO of AgroXchange Technology Services Limited, Adewale Adegoke, commended NADF for adopting a data-driven monitoring system to improve food sovereignty in Nigeria.
“NADF is changing the narrative. Their approach ensures that the distribution of inputs is fully tracked and traceable, with real, quantifiable impact on farmers,” he said.
“They are using advanced intelligence and satellite technology to detect issues even farmers may not see. NADF is set to transform the lives of 50,000 farmers, potentially tripling their incomes post-harvest,” he added.
He noted that despite training, national maize yields remain low due to poor compliance with good agronomic practices (GAPs). “Some maize varieties promise up to six tons per hectare, but the national average is just 1.9 to 2 tons,” he said.
Also, Head of Strategy at NADF, Adebanke Fajana, said, “We have a state level, a regional level, and a national level. All data information relating to this programme will be handled centrally.”
She noted that state consultants will gather field data and monitor agro-processors. “You are the ones to gather information, valuable data for us. And the integrity of the data is extremely important to us,” she added.
Fajana said NADF will also deploy independent agents and engage community leaders to strengthen grassroots coordination. Further details, including deliverables and reporting templates, will be shared in future sessions.
The Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary, Lanre Wilton-Wadell, said, “We came up with this model because 70 per cent of smallholder farmers face constraints accessing quality seeds and lack the knowledge of good agricultural practices. At the same time, processors struggle to secure raw materials sustainably and at fair prices due to middlemen and market inefficiencies.”
The AgGrow pilot, covering 12 to 15 states, will serve as a model for scaling similar agricultural support programmes nationwide. With this launch, NADF signals a shift to data-driven governance in agriculture where every farm counts, every input is tracked, and every harvest is measured.
