The Federal Government has commenced the development of a harmonised national fertiliser manual aimed at guiding farmers on proper fertiliser use across Nigeria’s diverse agro-ecological zones.

The initiative, being driven by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) in collaboration with key stakeholders, formally entered the validation stage at a stakeholders’ workshop held on Tuesday in Abuja.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Abdullahi, said the validation exercise was designed to harvest technical inputs from experts to ensure the manual is practical, farmer-friendly, and suitable for use by extension officers and other end users.

He underscored the central role of fertiliser in boosting agricultural productivity, stressing that its benefits are only realised when applied correctly and responsibly.

“Fertiliser is a major driver of productivity, but when guidance is inconsistent or fragmented, we lose efficiency and risk long-term damage to soil health,” Abdullahi said. “A harmonised national manual will promote higher yields, smarter input use, and more sustainable farming practices.”

According to him, the initiative aligns with NADF’s mandate to support agricultural development through evidence-based interventions and strategic partnerships, with a focus on improving productivity, protecting soil health, and strengthening national food security.

Abdullahi urged stakeholders to engage actively in the validation process and provide clear, practical recommendations that would ensure nationwide adoption and effective implementation of the manual.

Also speaking, the Director of Farm Input Support Services at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Waziri Abba, described the harmonised fertiliser manual as a critical tool for boosting crop yields, improving farmers’ profitability, driving sustainable economic growth, and strengthening food security.

He noted that fertiliser use in Nigeria has traditionally been guided by blanket recommendations that fail to reflect the varying nutrient needs of soils across different agro-ecological zones, as well as the economic realities confronting farmers.

Such generalised recommendations, he said, often result in over-fertilisation in some areas, under-fertilisation in others, or the application of inappropriate nutrient combinations for specific soils and 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 said. “Our goal is to transition from inefficient, generalised practices to site-specific fertiliser recommendations that are scientifically sound, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable.”

He added that the exercise also seeks to address the challenge of hidden hunger—micronutrient deficiencies in food—emphasising that healthy soils produce healthy crops, which ultimately improve human nutrition.

“Our efforts go beyond food security to nutrition security,” he said.