Agriculture Ministry set to collect Farmers’ data

By Kunle Sanni

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has inaugurated a Technical Working Group (TWG) to develop a comprehensive farmer database. This initiative aims to improve the identification of farmers and ensure that agricultural inputs and support are delivered to the right beneficiaries.

The inauguration, held recently at the Ministry’s conference room in Abuja, was led by Temitope Fashedemi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry. Fashedemi emphasized that this initiative is crucial for shaping the future of agriculture in Nigeria by creating a seamless and accurate farmer database.

He revealed that the Ministry would collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to develop this robust database. This collaboration is expected to streamline the delivery of agricultural resources and support to farmers across the country.

Fashedemi also noted that this effort aligns with the Ministry’s recent launch of the National Executive Committee on the Implementation of the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Card Scheme, which aims to boost agricultural productivity and contribute to a food-secure future for Nigeria.

The TWG, led by the Director of the Department of Planning and Policy Coordination, will include representatives from various technical departments within the Ministry and NIMC. The group’s primary task is to develop effective strategies for the seamless capture and management of farmer data.

In his remarks, Peter Iwegbu, Director of Card Management Services at NIMC, highlighted the commission’s role in establishing and managing Nigeria’s national identity database. He explained that the program would enable the government to better manage agricultural interventions, validate soil quality, and accurately target support to farmers.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference (TOR) includes developing a comprehensive work plan with clear timelines, designing data collection tools to capture essential farmer information, and establishing strong collaboration terms between the Ministry and NIMC. The TWG’s membership is drawn from technical departments within the Ministry and NIMC.