Nigerian Government To Open Farmers Registry

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The federal government of Nigeria has unveiled plans to establish a comprehensive digital registry for farmers across Nigeria, capturing critical details such as farm sizes and locations to enhance the traceability of agricultural produce from origin to market.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari announced the initiative during an event in Maiduguri, Borno State, revealing that the database will be developed in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission to ensure accuracy and security.

Kyari explained that the registry will function as a pivotal tool for the ministry to pinpoint genuine farmers and assess their eligibility for various government support programs, including subsidies, loans, and training.

By linking each farmer’s identity to specific farmland coordinates, the system aims to curb fraud, streamline intervention delivery, and promote accountability in the agricultural sector.

As part of the outreach, the ministry distributed essential farming equipment to smallholder farmers, vulnerable households, and cooperative associations in Borno State.

The minister emphasised that the inputs are designed to lower production costs and elevate yields, empowering local producers to contribute more effectively to national food security goals.

The move comes amid ongoing efforts to revitalise agriculture in the North East, a region still recovering from years of insurgency that disrupted farming activities.