The Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have begun harmonisation of the National Registry of Nigerian farmers.

The harmonisation would be implemented by the Heifer Foundation and domiciled at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

IFAD Country Director, Dede Ekoue, while speaking at the launch of the policy dialogue of the National Farmers Registry in Abuja, said the dialogue is in line with the cooperation agreement and strategy between the Federal Government of Nigeria and IFAD.

While applauding the government for putting in place a NIN-enabled farmer registry, she stressed that data is key to the development of the agricultural sector.

She emphasised that partnership among key stakeholders is important to having a well-accepted national registry of Nigerian farmers.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, noted that the dialogue was convened under the digital innovation action plan.

He said, although agriculture is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, unfortunately, over the years, efforts to transform the sector have been hampered by the lack of reliable data, especially on the key actors.

Ogunbiyi said the digital national farmers registry will bridge the gap and capture accurate, real-time, and geo-referenced data on farmers across the country, disaggregated by location, commodity, scale of production, gender, and age.

He said, “This registry is not just a database, but a strategic tool for promoting inclusion, transparency, and measurable impact.as well as the foundation for evidence-based planning, targeted intervention, inclusive policymaking, and accountability in the agricultural ecosystem.

“It allows us to identify and reach real farmers with the right support, eliminate inefficiencies, and ensure that resources are aligned with national priorities, and ensure that resources are aligned with national priorities.

“A reliable and up-to-date Farmers’ Registry is therefore fundamental to effective planning, precise targeting, and efficient delivery of agricultural interventions.”

The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the registration process involves geo-tagging farmers to their farmlands, a feature that enhances traceability, planning, and monitoring to improve transparency, eliminate ghost beneficiaries, and deliver effective government-to-people (G2P) services.

He explained that the linking farmers to a government-to-people (G2P) Card would enable direct access to inputs, interventions, extension services, and financial inclusion, adding that the digital identity is not just a technological solution, but as a catalyst for empowerment to open doors to credit, insurance, climate-smart technologies, and market opportunities.

The Country Director, Heifer International in Nigeria, Dr Lekan Tobe, in his remarks, emphasised the critical role of partnership and data in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

He highlighted the Federal Government’s proactive steps in recognising the importance of a national digital farmer registry.