ABUJA – THE Federal Government, Tuesday, moved to harmonize fertilizer application to protect the health of the soil and consumers.

This was made known by the Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Development Fund, NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim while speaking at the National Stakeholders Workshop for the validation of the Harmonized Fertilizer Manual held in Abuja.

Ibrahim expressed optimism that with the harmonized fertilizer manual there will be high volume of food production across the country while commending the team who painstakingly worked to come up with the harmonized fertilizer manual.

He said: “Fertilizer is a major driver of productivity, but it only delivers value when it is applied correctly and responsibly. When guidance is inconsistent or fragmented, we lose efficiency, and we risk long-term damage to soil health.

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“A harmonised national manual helps us promote better yields, smarter input use, and more sustainable farming practices.

“This initiative aligns directly with NADF’s mandate to support agricultural development through evidence-based interventions and strong partnerships.

“We are focused on impact, improving productivity, safeguarding soil health, and strengthening food security.”

Meanwhile, he urged participants to engage openly and offer specific, practical recommendations with a final document that guarantee a clear pathway for national adoption and implementation.

“We look forward to supporting the next steps that move this manual from paper to field practice, through coordination with relevant institutions and extension systems”, he added.

Meanwhile, in an opening remark by the Director, Farm Inputs Support Services, FISS Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Abana Abba, explained the benefits the harmonized fertilizer manual will bring into the agricultural sector when implemented.

Abba pointed out that there have been different recommendations for fertilizer application that had led to “over-fertilize in some areas and under-fertilize in others or apply an improper balance of nutrients for their soil or crop”, saying “It is for these reasons that we are gathered here today as a deliberate fundamental step towards a firm commitment to precision agriculture.”

Meanwhile, he further stated that the validation exercise aims at addressing the challenge of hidden hunger- lack of vitamins and minerals in food, “this we know is a form of undernutrition resulting from micronutrient deficiency as “healthy soils give rise to healthy plants which when consumed by human, give rise to healthy life. So, the effort goes beyond food security but also nutrition security.”

According to him, “By validating this manual, we are ensuring that farmers apply the right nutrients at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place.

“Our collective objective is to transition from generalized and often inefficient practices to site-specific fertilizer recommendation that are scientifically sound economically viable and environmentally sustainable.”