The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has called for the development of a robust digital farmer registry to link Nigerian farmers with their farms and ensure that agricultural interventions reach the right beneficiaries.
Kyari made the call at the National Strategic Dialogue on the AGROW Subcomponent 2.2 National Implementation Strategy and Digital Agriculture Architecture in Abuja.
The minister said effective agricultural planning and food security policies must begin with accurate information about farmers, their locations and the crops they cultivate.
According to him, the World Bank-supported AGROW initiative would build on existing efforts involving the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the National Agricultural Development Information Management System (NADMIS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
He said the objective was to create an interconnected agricultural information ecosystem capable of providing government with reliable and verifiable data for planning and intervention.
Kyari stressed that verified farm locations should form the foundation of the proposed digital registry by establishing a clear link between individual farmers and the land they cultivate.
He explained that such a system would enable government to more accurately target agricultural inputs, financing, extension and advisory services, as well as other interventions aimed at boosting food production.
The minister also urged state governments to take ownership of farmer enumeration and verification, while ensuring that records are continuously updated.
He said the registry should not be treated as a one-off exercise but as a living national service that must be regularly maintained to reflect changes in farmers, farms and agricultural activities.
Kyari said a reliable digital agricultural database would strengthen government’s ability to plan, monitor and deliver interventions while supporting Nigeria’s broader efforts to achieve food security.
The minister’s remarks came as stakeholders at the strategic dialogue focused on developing a national implementation framework and digital architecture capable of connecting Nigeria’s farmers, farms and agricultural support systems.
