News in brief:
– The Federal Government partners with NIMC to develop a comprehensive farmers’ database to enhance interventions.
– This initiative ensures targeted support, addressing challenges like ghost farmers and boosting food security in Nigeria.
Nigeria has launched an ambitious initiative to boost agricultural development by creating a comprehensive farmers’ register. The project, a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), aims to establish a reliable nationwide database of genuine farmers.
In a statement on Thursday, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, announced that the project’s initial phase would involve registering two million farmers within three months. This will expand to six million in the second phase, with the ultimate goal of registering all farmers across Nigeria.
The minister highlighted the challenges of past agricultural interventions, which often failed to reach genuine farmers due to the lack of a reliable database. “This initiative is a game-changer. It will enable the government to target authentic farmers, enhance food production, and ensure food security,” he said.
Utilising NIMC’s platform for accuracy
The farmers’ register will be built using NIMC’s robust platform, integrating the National Identification Number (NIN) and National Identity Card, which store biometric data. This register will also include critical farming information, such as farmland location, crop types, soil characteristics, and farming methods, ensuring targeted and effective interventions.
According to Kyari, the initiative will address long-standing issues like ‘portfolio farmers and ghost farmers,’ ensuring government resources reach those who genuinely need support.
The Director General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, expressed the commission’s dedication to the project. She assured Nigerians that it would leverage its widespread infrastructure, with offices in all Local Government Areas (LGAs), to facilitate seamless registration.
“We will utilise our resources to ensure the registration process is smooth. Using the NIN, we aim to link the life cycle of farmer beneficiaries, enabling them to access government services efficiently,” she said.
