AgGrow Programme
In a major step toward ensuring accountability and impact in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has launched a digital Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) platform to oversee the implementation of its N19.5 billion AgGrow Farm Support Programme.
The AgGrow scheme is designed to support 50,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, offering 50% subsidies on seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection products for key crops including maize, rice, cassava, and soybeans. By deploying the new software, NADF aims to track every input from distribution to usage, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and alignment with national food security priorities.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, described the platform as a “game-changer” that will revolutionize how agricultural support programmes are managed in the country. “This platform ensures that every seed, every input, and every naira invested is properly tracked, allowing us to learn, adapt, and deliver better results,” he said.
Under the AgGrow model, inputs will be fully financed by NADF, while processors repay 50% of the cost after harvest. This out grower arrangement aims to strengthen the link between farmers and processors, eliminate exploitative middlemen, and enhance raw material sourcing for agro-industries.
To guarantee accountability, participating farmers must be registered with either a Bank Verification Number (BVN) or National Identity Number (NIN). Their farms will also be geo-tagged and biometrically verified. Weekly field reports, third-party audits, and strict compliance measures have been embedded in the programme’s design.
The platform will also facilitate advisory services and deliver extension training on good agronomic practices, addressing low national yields. For instance, while some maize varieties can yield up to six tons per hectare, the national average remains around two tons a gap NADF hopes to close.
The programme is inclusive by design, with 40% of its beneficiaries being women and 20% youth. In addition, crop insurance has been introduced to protect farmers against climate-related risks.
Adewale Adegoke, CEO of AgroXchange Technology Services, commended NADF’s adoption of a data-driven system, noting its potential to triple farmers’ incomes. “NADF’s digital system will allow for precise, satellite-supported monitoring of farms. This is a transformative approach for food security,” he said.
NADF’s Head of Strategy, Adebanke Fajana, emphasized the importance of data integrity, stating that all field information would be centrally managed and independently verified. Community leaders and local agents will also be engaged to strengthen grassroots coordination.
The AgGrow pilot, targeting 12 to 15 states, is expected to serve as a blueprint for scaling agricultural support initiatives nationwide. With this digital deployment, NADF is signalling a new era of results-driven agricultural development—where every farm counts, every input is tracked, and every harvest is measured.
