By Hellen Ayodeji
Abuja, Nigeria — The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has unveiled a new digital Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) platform to oversee the implementation of its N19.5 billion AgGrow Farm Support Programme.
The initiative, launched in Abuja, aims to support 50,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones with a 50 percent subsidy on essential agricultural inputs, including seeds, fertilisers, and crop protection products. The programme targets key crop value chains such as maize, rice, cassava, and soybeans.
Describing the platform as a “game-changer,” NADF Executive Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, said it will help ensure that all resources invested in the programme are transparently tracked and efficiently managed.
“This platform ensures that every seed, every input, and every naira invested is properly tracked from distribution to usage,” Ibrahim said. “We can keep learning, improving, and delivering results aligned with national priorities.”
Under the AgGrow scheme, NADF will fully finance the agricultural inputs for the farmers. Processors participating in the programme will reimburse half of the input costs after harvest through structured outgrower arrangements. The goal is to strengthen direct links between farmers and processors, reduce dependency on middlemen, and boost the supply of raw materials to the agro-processing sector.
Emphasising transparency and accountability, Ibrahim said the digital M&E platform is part of a broader framework designed to enhance project supervision and performance tracking.
“All participating farmers must be registered using either their Bank Verification Number (BVN) or National Identity Number (NIN),” he noted. “Their farms will also be geo-tagged and biometrically verified.”
To ensure proper oversight, NADF will implement weekly reporting, independent audits, and strict compliance protocols. These measures, according to Ibrahim, will guarantee that inputs are used appropriately and project outcomes are accurately monitored.
