The Federal Government has announced plans to launch a pilot phase of the Farmer Identity Management System in Nasarawa State, leveraging the National Identification Number (NIN) to verify and document genuine farmers across the country.
Speaking at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Digital Village Initiative (DVI) workshop held Thursday in Lagos, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the initiative aims to streamline planning, policy implementation, and access to agricultural interventions.
This development follows the launch of a national farmer registry in January, which seeks to link farmers to specific farmlands across Nigeria.
Kyari stated that the new system represents a pragmatic step by the Ministry to utilize existing biometric data and technological tools to accurately enumerate and authenticate farmers and their lands.
“We are pioneering the use of the National Identification Number to authenticate Nigeria’s farmer registers in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC),” he said. “A Memorandum of Understanding has already been signed with NIMC, and we are moving forward with a pilot project in Nasarawa State.”
The Minister emphasized that the initiative is a vital part of Nigeria’s digital agriculture drive and a critical component for the planning and execution of agricultural programmes at both national and sub-national levels.
He further revealed plans to incorporate geospatial technology into the system, stating that farms will be geo-referenced and virtually fenced, while farmers will be geo-tagged to their respective farmlands.
“Digital agriculture holds immense potential for transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector, improving food security, and boosting economic growth,” Kyari said. “Technology is not a luxury, it is a necessity if we are to meet the targets of the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Kyari reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to driving digital transformation in agriculture and called on all stakeholders to play active roles in ensuring its success.
He also commended the FAO for its technical support, expressing optimism that with strong collaboration, Nigeria’s agricultural sector can transition from “subsistence to sustainability, from isolation to integration, and from vulnerability to value.”
