The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), in partnership with relevant stakeholders, has started the validation process for a comprehensive national fertiliser-use manual aimed at guiding farmers across Nigeria’s varied agro-ecological zones.
The initiative was launched during a stakeholders’ validation workshop held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, NADF Executive Secretary Mohammed Abdullahi explained that the workshop is designed to collect expert technical inputs to make the manual practical, accessible, and effective for farmers, agricultural extension workers, and other users.
Abdullahi emphasized that while fertiliser remains a key driver of agricultural output, its full benefits depend on correct and responsible application.
“When guidance is inconsistent or fragmented, we lose efficiency and risk long-term damage to soil health,” he said.
“A harmonised national manual will promote better yields, smarter input use, and more sustainable farming practices.”
He noted that the project aligns with NADF’s core mandate to drive agricultural progress through evidence-based strategies, strong collaborations, improved productivity, soil health preservation, and enhanced national food security.
The executive secretary called on workshop participants to contribute actively with realistic, actionable suggestions to ensure the manual is widely adopted and effectively implemented nationwide.
Also addressing the gathering, Mr Waziri Abba, Director of Farm Input Support Services at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, described the harmonised fertiliser manual as an essential tool for raising crop yields, increasing farmers’ profitability, fostering sustainable economic growth, and reinforcing food security.
Abba pointed out that fertiliser use in Nigeria has historically depended on broad, one-size-fits-all recommendations that ignore differences in soil nutrient requirements across agro-ecological zones and the economic constraints farmers face.
Such blanket approaches, he said, frequently lead to over-application in some areas, under-application in others, or the use of unbalanced nutrients unsuitable for specific soils or crops.
“By validating this manual, we are ensuring that farmers apply the right nutrients at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place,” Abba stated.“
Our collective objective is to move from generalised and inefficient practices to site-specific fertiliser recommendations that are scientifically sound, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable.”
He further highlighted that the initiative addresses the issue of hidden hunger, micronutrient deficiencies in food by promoting healthy soils that produce nutrient-rich crops, ultimately supporting better human nutrition.
“Our efforts go beyond food security to nutrition security,” he added.
The validation workshop marks a key step in developing a unified, science-based resource to modernise fertiliser application practices and support Nigeria’s long-term agricultural and nutritional goals.
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