The Federal Government has unveiled the National Digital Farmers Registry (NDFR), a collaborative knowledge-exchange platform designed to create a unified, efficient, and secure digital agriculture ecosystem.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during the Stakeholders Workshop on Best Practices for the NDFR held in Abuja on Wednesday.

The initiative aligns with government priorities for designing and implementing a national registry that strengthens data governance, ensures every farmer in Nigeria is uniquely identified, and improves access to inputs, finance, and extension services.

The workshop, organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Heifer International, brought together government agencies, private sector actors, development partners, technology innovators, and farmers’ associations.

Kyari emphasised that the workshop provides an opportunity to engage with global and regional best practices, strengthening the multi-stakeholder platform to ensure the NDFR is inclusive, sustainable, and impactful.

“A credible and inclusive NDFR is essential for targeted interventions, improving farmer access to resources, and enhancing accountability across agricultural value chains,” he said.

The Ministry is collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to design a NIN-enabled registry, ensuring a credible national database that reduces duplication, fraud, and fragmentation.

The Office of the National Security Adviser is also supporting the project to embed strong data-protection measures, cybersecurity safeguards, and national-security considerations, highlighting that protecting farmers’ data is a national priority.

The initiative is a commitment under the Kampala Declaration on Strengthening Digital and Data Systems for Agricultural Transformation and the CAADP Agenda, promoting harmonised, farmer-centred digital ecosystems and interoperability across agriculture and food systems.

“By building a unified NIN-enabled registry and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, Nigeria is demonstrating continental leadership and fulfilling its commitment to data-driven agricultural development,” Kyari said.

IFAD Country Director Dede Ekoue praised the initiative, noting that it demonstrates a strong government commitment to transforming the agricultural sector and improving farmers’ livelihoods.

Heifer Nigeria Country Director, Dr Lekan Tobe, added that their organisation supports policy dialogue, best-practice research, and capacity building, contributing to a robust NIN-supported registry that promotes transparency, inclusivity, and effective service delivery.

Source: Punch News