The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and other stakeholders have begun the validation of the national manual for fertiliser use by farmers across various agro-ecological zones 

The Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, while speaking at the opening ceremony of the stakeholders’ validation workshop in Abuja, said the aim of the workshop was to get stakeholders technical inputs in ensuring that the manual is practical for farmers, extension workers among other end users.

Emphasising the importance of the manual, he stated that fertilizer, being a major driver of productivity, delivers value when it is applied correctly and responsibly. 

He said: “When guidance is inconsistent or fragmented, we lose efficiency, and we risk long-term damage to soil health. A harmonised national manual helps us promote better yields, smarter input use, and more sustainable farming practices.”

Mohammed stated that the initiative aligns directly with NADF’s mandate to support agricultural development through evidence-based interventions and strong partnerships, saying their focus is to improve productivity, safeguard soil health, and strengthen food security.

He urged the participants to engage openly and offer specific, practical recommendations and a clear pathway for national adoption and implementation. 

The Director Farm Input Support  Service, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Waziri Abba, noted that the harmonised Fertilizer Manual; is a critical tool for enhancing crop productivity, improving farmers profitability, promoting sustainable economic growth, and ultimately strengthening national food security.

He mentioned that over time conventional fertiliser use has been guided by blanket recommendations that fail to reflect the diverse nutrient needs of soils across different agro-ecological zones, as well as the economic realities faced by farmers.

Abba stated that blanket fertiliser application recommendations may lead farmers to over-fertilise in some areas and under-fertilise in others or apply an improper balance of nutrients for their soil or crop.

The Director said: “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. Our collective objective is to transition from generalised and often inefficient practices to site-specific fertiliser recommendation that are scientifically sound, economically viable and environmentally sustainable.”

He stated that the validation exercise was aimed at addressing the challenge of hidden hunger – lack of vitamins and minerals in food, saying healthy soils give rise to healthy plants, which when consumed by human, give rise to healthy life. Abba added that their effort goes beyond food security but also nutrition security.