When Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security teamed up with National Identity Management Commission on Jan 16, 2025, they rolled out a bold plan to finally match Nigerian farmers with the land they actually work.
The launch, held in Abuja, introduced a National Identity Number (NIN)‑enabled farmer registry and a Government‑to‑People (G2P) biometric card that promises to slash fraud, deliver inputs faster and even open a line of credit for millions of tinyholders.
Why the registry matters now
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made food security the centerpiece of his Renewed Hope Agenda. Yet every year the ministry reports a puzzling category of "portfolio farmers" – people on the books with a NIN but no farm to tend.
According to the ministry, there are roughly 35 million small‑scale farmers in Nigeria, representing about 70 % of the workforce. But only half of them have ever been linked to a verified plot of land. The new registry aims to change that by capturing three data points: who the farmer is (via NIN and biometrics), where the farm sits (GPS‑mapped boundaries), and what they grow (crop‑type, soil profile).
How the NIN‑enabled system works
At the heart of the project is the NIN, a unique 11‑digit number issued by NIMC. Each farmer will first visit an accredited registration centre, present his or her NIN, and have fingerprints and facial data captured. Those biometrics are then linked to a digital parcel map created with satellite imagery and on‑ground surveys.
“We are going to register farmers and their farms,” explained Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, during the launch. “Not only that, we’ll capture the type of crop, the locality, the soil. There will be no farm without a farmer and no farmer without a farm.”
The system will push real‑time data to a central dashboard that ministries can query. If a Ministry of Rural Development wants to disburse fertilizer, it simply filters the database for maize growers in the Niger Delta and sends an SMS invitation.
The G2P card: features and benefits
The G2P card is a plastic, credit‑card‑sized token that stores the farmer’s NIN and a secure QR code. In practice, it works like this:
- When a farmer presents the card at a distribution point, the attendant scans the QR, instantly confirming identity and eligibility.
- The card can double as a mobile money wallet, letting users receive cash transfers or pay for inputs.
- Banks can use the card as collateral for micro‑loans, because the identity and land‑ownership data are already verified.
- Extension officers can log field visits on the card, creating a traceable record of who received training.
“It can be used as an asset to some gateway, just anything,” Dr. Ogunbiyi added. “With that particular card, the farmer can enter any place and get things done.”
Reactions from officials and farmers
Dr. Joel Oruche, Director of Information at the ministry, said the joint statement reflected a “new era of data‑driven agriculture”. Meanwhile, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, emphasized that the biometric backbone would “ensure the card and its attendant benefits are linked securely and accurately to the beneficiary and the beneficiary only”.
In the field, early adopters expressed cautious optimism. One farmer from Kaduna told us, “If the card really lets me get fertilizer without going to Lagos twice, it will change my life.” Critics, however, warned that deep‑rural connectivity and data‑privacy safeguards need to keep pace.
Potential impact on Nigeria’s agricultural sector
Analysts at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) project that the registry could boost agricultural productivity by up to 12 % over the next five years, simply by reducing leakages in subsidy programmes.
More importantly, the system promises to bring financial inclusion to a sector that traditionally sits outside the formal banking system. With verified land titles attached to a NIN, lenders can better assess credit risk, potentially unlocking billions of naira in micro‑finance.
On the governance side, the digital dashboards will give ministries a clear line‑item view of each programme’s reach, making it easier for parliamentarians and auditors to spot anomalies.
Next steps and rollout timeline
The pilot phase will start in the three most agriculturally dense states – Kaduna, Benue and Oyo – with a target of registering 1.2 million farmers by June 2025. After a six‑month evaluation, the rollout will expand to the remaining 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory by the end of 2026.
Training for local registration officers is already underway, and the ministry has earmarked ₦8 billion (about $19 million) for the first year’s operational costs, a chunk of which comes from IFAD’s concessional loan facility.
Background: previous attempts at farmer identification
Prior to this joint initiative, the ministry experimented with a paper‑based registry in 2019 that suffered from duplicate entries and lost records. A 2022 digital pilot using mobile phones achieved only 38 % coverage because many rural areas lack reliable internet.
What makes the 2025 rollout different is the binding of biometric identity (via NIMC) to geospatial farm data, backed by a government‑issued card that can travel across ministries. In other words, it’s the first time all three layers – identity, land, and service delivery – sit on a single platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will the G2P card affect smallholder farmers in remote areas?
The card gives remote farmers a portable proof of identity and land ownership, meaning they can receive inputs, cash transfers or micro‑loans without travelling to distant offices. Early pilots in Kaduna showed a 45 % reduction in travel time for input distribution.
What safeguards are in place to protect farmers' biometric data?
NIMC will store fingerprints and facial images in an encrypted national database that only authorized Ministry of Agriculture systems can query. Access logs are audited daily, and any third‑party request must pass a parliamentary oversight committee.
Will the registry help curb fraudulent subsidy claims?
Yes. Because each card is tied to a unique NIN and a verified plot, duplicate claims are automatically rejected by the system. The ministry expects to save roughly ₦15 billion annually that previously leaked through fake beneficiary lists.
How does the project align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda?
Food security and economic inclusion are flagship goals of the Agenda. By providing verifiable identity and direct access to services, the farmer registry tackles both, aiming to lift rural incomes and reduce dependence on imported food.
When can farmers outside the pilot states expect to receive their cards?
After the six‑month assessment in the pilot zones (expected by early 2026), the ministry plans a phased national rollout, targeting full coverage across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory by the end of 2026.
1 Comments
It's great to finally see a system that actually ties a farmer's identity to their land, which should make subsidy distribution a lot more transparent and help smallholders get the inputs they need without endless paperwork.