Government Launches NIN-Enabled Farmer Registry to Boost Agriculture
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari
The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has launched a National Identity Number (NIN)-enabled farmer registry and a government-to-People (G2P) card system. This new initiative aims to improve the way agricultural services are delivered to farmers by solving challenges related to identity and verification.
Linking Farmers to Government Services
The farmer registry links each farmer’s NIN to their farmland, including details about the type of crops or livestock they have and the size of their farm. The G2P card is designed to provide NIN-enabled cards to all Nigerians and legal residents, including those without bank accounts. The card uses biometric verification (like fingerprints) to confirm identities and offers multiple wallets for transactions. It also works offline, so farmers in remote areas can still use it.
How the G2P Card Will Benefit Farmers
The G2P card will be used for various government agricultural programs like subsidies, loans, and welfare payments. By having a secure, unique identity linked to their farm, farmers can access services without worrying about fraud. The card will also allow the government to monitor and track agricultural activities in real-time, improving efficiency and transparency.
With the G2P card, the Ministry of Agriculture will be able to manage its programs independently, using digital dashboards to track the progress of projects and ensure they reach the right people. Services available through the card will include:
Financing for farmers
Distribution of farming inputs
Farmland mapping linked to identity
Monitoring and evaluation of extension services
Agency banking and other third-party services
Empowering farmers with secure identities and digital tools are the key to unlocking a future of sustainable agriculture and food security in Nigeria.”
NIMC’s Role in Ensuring Security
The NIMC plays a key role in ensuring that farmers are accurately identified through their biometric data. This helps prevent fraud and ensures that only the rightful farmers benefit from government programs. The G2P ecosystem will also allow the Ministry to manage programs more effectively, with easy access to data that shows how well each program is being carried out.
This new initiative will revolutionize the way agricultural services are provided in Nigeria. By linking farmers to the government through secure, digital identification, the program will help improve food security, reduce fraud, and ensure that the right resources reach those who need them most. With better tracking and transparency, farmers will benefit from more targeted and efficient services, making a positive impact on the agriculture sector in Nigeria.
