The National Agricultural Development Fund has engaged agricultural processors and other stakeholders in a roundtable discussion to review the first phase of its Farm Input Supply Programme and refine strategies for improved delivery in the next phase.

The General Manager, Partnerships and Investor Relations, Nasir Ingawa, in a statement on Thursday, said the programme was designed to address one of the major constraints facing Nigerian agriculture, timely access to quality farm inputs.

Ingawa explained that NADF was established to mobilise and deploy sustainable financing to support agricultural productivity, resilience, and inclusive growth, with a particular focus on smallholder farmers.

“The NADF–Farm Input Supply Programme was designed as a strategic intervention to improve access to essential inputs, enhance yields and agricultural productivity, while strengthening rural livelihoods through out-grower systems,” he said.

He noted that while the objectives of the pilot programme were clear and well-intentioned, its implementation had faced some challenges, including delays that affected planting cycles and expected yields.

“We are fully aware that this pilot intervention has not been without challenges. These challenges are real and underscore the complexity of implementing agricultural interventions of this nature,” Ingawa said.

According to him, the roundtable was convened to enable NADF to learn from the first phase of the programme and improve its design, coordination, and delivery mechanisms.

“This engagement will help us strengthen quality assurance processes, optimise logistics and timelines, and integrate stronger climate-risk considerations into programme planning and implementation,” he added.

Ingawa further explained that some challenges identified were related to input supply logistics and weather-related factors linked to climate variability.

“The first step in addressing these challenges is to bring all stakeholders together, listen to them first-hand, and devise inclusive strategies that reflect realities on the ground,” he said.

On concerns raised about government policies affecting the importation of farm inputs, Ingawa acknowledged that public policies were dynamic and often designed to respond to prevailing circumstances.

“As we move into the next wet season, I am confident that the government will review existing policies and adjust them in line with current realities,” he said.

One participant, a processor and agricultural consultant, Prof. Mukhtar Yusuf Abdullahi, described the programme’s objectives as “apt and relevant,” noting that they were capable of addressing many of the challenges faced by Nigerian farmers.

However, he said government policies, particularly on importation, had negatively affected the programme’s implementation.

“At inception, we were meant to start the programme very early, but due to logistics issues and changes in importation policies, we could not get the required inputs at the right time,” Abdullahi said.

He commended the introduction of subsidies under the programme, noting that it marked a significant shift from previous arrangements where farmers bore the full cost of inputs.

“Farmers were given quality inputs at a 50 per cent subsidy. This is commendable because it enables them to produce more competitively,” he said.

However, Abdullahi warned that falling commodity prices posed a risk to farmers’ ability to repay loans and sustain their livelihoods.

“If farmers are expected to pay certain amounts for inputs, we must also consider how much they will sell their produce for, who will buy at competitive prices, and whether the farmer can repay loans and still cater for his family,” he said.

He urged the government to adopt a more inclusive approach to policy formulation by consulting stakeholders before implementing policies that affect the agricultural value chain.

“The principle of stakeholder involvement is very important. When farmers, processors, and other stakeholders are involved, it provides a clear road map to success,” he added.

Another participant, Abubakar Said Dansadau, said the roundtable was timely, given that the programme was in its first year of implementation.