By Ibrahim Aliyu Gurin
The Federal Government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has begun the development of a comprehensive digital registry aimed at identifying farmers across Nigeria, their farm locations, soil types, and crops cultivated.
The National Digital Farmers Registry (NDFR), designed to streamline data across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, was formally launched during a policy dialogue in Abuja on Wednesday.
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Agro Climate News gathered that the initiative will provide farmers with a unique identity card that links with their National Identification Number (NIN), enabling them to access agricultural support, including loans and inputs.
Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), noted that the registry will help eliminate the challenge of “portfolio farmers”—individuals who claim to be farmers but own no farmland.
“We want to capture not just the names of farmers, but their exact farm locations, the kind of crops they grow, and the nature of the soil on their land,” Ogunbiyi said. “Every legitimate farmer will receive both a digital and physical identity card. This card will serve as proof of identity and a gateway to access government services, financial assistance, and agricultural inputs.”
He further explained that the card would be integrated with national databases, making it usable across multiple platforms and sectors, including financial institutions.
To ensure the success of this initiative, the ministry has partnered with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), allowing the integration of the NIN into the registry system. Ogunbiyi said this step is crucial in creating a reliable, unified agricultural data system that is traceable and accountable.
On her part, Mrs. Dede Ahoefa Ekoue, IFAD’s Country Director in Nigeria, praised the government’s commitment to the project, describing the registry as a long-awaited breakthrough in the agricultural sector. She pointed out that previous efforts to build a farmer database were hindered by fragmentation and lacked long-term viability.
“This time, there’s clear leadership and coordination. We’re working alongside public institutions, development partners like the World Bank, FAO, AfDB, and even representatives of farmers themselves to ensure this effort is inclusive and sustainable,” she said.
Ekoue also emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, private sector, and international agencies in building a reliable digital infrastructure that puts farmers at the center.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Lekan Tobe, Nigeria’s Country Director for Heifer International, underlined the importance of accurate data and partnerships in revolutionizing agriculture.
He said the digital registry emerged as a recommendation from earlier policy discussions held with the federal government, and it is now being brought to life to scale up the use of modern technology in the country’s food systems.
According to the stakeholders, the National Digital Farmers Registry is expected to become a vital tool in transforming agricultural productivity, ensuring proper targeting of interventions, and eliminating fraud in the distribution of government assistance.
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