The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has taken a major step towards standardising fertiliser application and improving agricultural productivity in Nigeria. The agency unveiled the first edition of the Harmonised Fertiliser Recommendations for Nigeria, a document developed in partnership with the Department of Farm Input Support Services (FISS) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. This is Nigeria’s first harmonised fertiliser recommendation guide, designed to enhance crop yields, improve soil health, and promote efficient fertiliser use across the country.
Presentation to Minister
During the presentation of the manual to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, in Abuja, NADF Executive Secretary Mohammed Ibrahim described the document as the first phase of a broader national guide on the application of agricultural inputs for all crops and farm inputs. He noted that the initiative began in April 2025 after stakeholders identified the urgent need for a unified national fertiliser application framework.
Collaborative Development
Ibrahim explained that key stakeholders, including the Department of Farm Input Support Services, Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), OCP Group, and the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), collaborated to scientifically develop and validate fertiliser recommendations tailored to Nigeria’s diverse farming conditions. The first edition of the guide focuses on five strategic crops: maize, rice, wheat, cassava, and cowpea. Plans are already underway to extend the recommendations to other crops.
Filling a Critical Gap
Chairman of the Editorial Committee and Food Systems and Agricultural Advisory Specialist, Professor Christogonus Daudu, noted that the new guide fills a major gap created since the last national fertiliser manual was issued in 2012. Farmers had relied on outdated or insufficient information regarding fertiliser application rates, timing, and nutrient management, resulting in poor yields, declining soil fertility, and inefficient fertiliser use.
“Farmers were not getting optimum yields, fertiliser-use efficiency remained low, and both government and farmers did not receive adequate returns on subsidy investments,” Daudu said. He explained that the manual was designed as a practical field guide for extension workers and farmers, not just a technical document.
Research-Based Recommendations
The recommendations were developed using research data from major agricultural institutions, including the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), and the Lake Chad Research Institute. According to Daudu, the guide incorporates fertiliser recommendations across Nigeria’s six agroecological zones, covering all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Sustainable Soil Management
Beyond fertiliser application rates, the manual introduces sustainable soil management principles such as Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) and the “4Rs” of nutrient stewardship: right source, right rate, right time, and right place. It also includes deep fertiliser placement technologies aimed at improving nutrient efficiency. To make the document more practical and farmer-friendly, fertiliser rates were converted into bag equivalents instead of kilogrammes. Extension glossaries, nutrient deficiency guides, and simplified language were also included.
Future Plans
The editorial committee recommended translating the guide into major Nigerian languages and deploying digital extension tools such as interactive voice response systems to bridge existing extension service gaps.
Minister's Response
Responding, Minister Kyari welcomed the initiative but stressed the need to ensure that productivity gains also translate into profitability for farmers. “If we increase yields but farmers spend more than the value they gain, then the economic objective is defeated,” he said. He emphasised that fertiliser recommendations must consider cost-benefit realities and varying soil conditions, especially in degraded farming environments.
The minister also lamented the decline of agricultural extension systems at the state level, describing extension workers as critical links between farmers and improved productivity. Kyari urged that the manual be aligned with ongoing soil health programmes and expanded to address climate-related challenges such as flooding, drought, and erratic rainfall patterns.
He further noted that although Nigeria possesses about 70 million hectares of arable land, only about 30 million hectares are currently being cultivated, underscoring the urgent need to improve agricultural productivity. The harmonised fertiliser manual is expected to play a significant role in Nigeria’s food security drive by improving nutrient management, restoring soil fertility, and increasing yields across major staple crops.
