By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari has said that the National Digital Farmers Registry (NDFR) would strengthen Nigeria’s Food Security Architecture.
As according to him, it would enable data driven policies, targeted interventions that boost agricultural productivity, and it would also ensure resources reach genuine farmers.
Making this statement today in Abuja, during the National Stakeholders Workshop on Best Practices for NDFR, the Minister stated that the initiative would strengthen agricultural planning, deliver targeted interventions, ensure accountability, and a credible as well as unified farmer’s identification system.
He noted that “the National Digital Farmers Registry is a foundational tool for strengthening Nigeria’s food security architecture and by providing timely, accurate insights into production patterns, cropping cycles, and regional supply conditions, the registry will give government the clarity needed to anticipate shifts in the food system and plan more effectively.”
He added that ‘’the NDFR also incorporates geo tagging of farmers and their farmlands.
“By linking each farmer to precise geographic coordinates, we enhance traceability, improve planning, and strengthen our ability to monitor interventions. This feature is essential for eliminating ghost beneficiaries and ensuring full transparency in government to people service delivery’’.
The Minister stated that ‘’ the Registry goes beyond verification by creating a single, trusted system that brings together accurate information on farmers nationwide. With one unified database across the 36 states and the FCT, government can deliver inputs, mechanization, extension services, credit, insurance, and other forms of support with the precision required to reach the right beneficiaries and promote true inclusion across the farming population’’.
He stressed that ‘’the importance of centralizing all farmer data on one national platform can not be overstated. A unified registry gives government clear visibility into Nigeria’s farming population and strengthens transparency, reduces duplication, prevents fraud, and supports accurate planning.
It also enables interoperability with other national systems and digital agriculture platforms, opening pathways to financial services, climate advisory tools, market information, mechanization access, and early warning systems’’.
He revealed that ‘’this visibility will support smarter decisions on resource allocation, risk management, and strategic investments across value chains. With a dependable national repository of farmer and farmland data, we can better manage seasonal pressures, enhance market stability, and reinforce policies that help keep food accessible and affordable for all Nigerians.’’
He further revealed that ‘’the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has taken decisive steps to reform how farmer data is managed. Working with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), we are anchoring the National Digital Farmers Registry on the National Identification Number to ensure that every farmer is uniquely identified and accurately documented.
We are also working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser to embed strong data protection standards, cybersecurity safeguards, and national security protocols into the system. Protecting the data of Nigerian farmers is a responsibility and a priority’’.
He pointed out that ‘’the National Digital Farmers Registry also reflects Nigeria’s commitment to the Kampala Declaration on Strengthening Digital and Data Systems for Agricultural Transformation under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Agenda. By building a unified and interoperable digital foundation for agriculture, we are helping shape an Africa that plans with clarity, acts with confidence, and delivers with purpose’’.
He appealed that ‘’ This workshop is not merely a technical exercise but a co-creation platform where government, development partners, technology innovators, researchers, and farmers’ groups can shape practical solutions together. By drawing on global best practices and grounding them in the realities of our own communities, we are building a National Digital Farmers Registry that is globally aligned yet uniquely suited to Nigeria’s needs
In her remarks, the Country Director, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Ms. Dede Ekoue stated that NDFR demonstrates the strong commitment of the Nigerian government to transform the agricultural sector and to improve farmers’ livelihood.
She added that the objective would ensure understanding of the best practices among key stakeholders in support of an integrated NDFR that transforms agrifood systems in Nigeria in line with the Kampala Declaration (2026-2035) Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) adopted by African Union Members States in January 2025.
In attendance were the Country Director, Heifer International Nigeria, Representatives of the Private Sector, Civil Society, Farmers Organization, and the Academia.
