Farmers in Gombe State have appealed to the Federal Government to revive the National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP).
They described the programme as a strategic tool for supporting farmers and strengthening the agricultural value chain.
Modibbo Ahmad, chairman of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Gombe State chapter, made the appeal in a statement on Monday.
“It has become imperative because many farmers are already struggling with rising production costs, uncertain rainfall, pest outbreaks, fluctuating produce prices and the financial risks associated with cultivation.
“Nigeria needs NAGS-AP as an agricultural intervention that works for farmers in practical terms, strengthens local input-distribution networks and produces measurable results in food production,” he said.
Ahmad said the scheme’s agricultural input support and distribution model offered a framework for delivering government assistance to farmers while engaging agro-dealers and other stakeholders in the input supply chain.
“The Federal Government should, therefore, review the programme’s previous implementation, identify its strengths and weaknesses, address any shortcomings and establish a clear framework for its effective continuation.
“The objective should be to ensure that public resources translate into tangible benefits for Nigerian farmers,” he said.
Ahmad said reviving NAGS-AP would strengthen food security, increase agricultural productivity, create employment and reduce the cost of living.
He called on the Federal Government to place the scheme’s future on its agricultural policy agenda.
“The government should also engage relevant stakeholders and take evidence-based action towards a sustainable and effective agricultural input-support system,” he said.
Ahmad said farmers’ and input distributors’ experiences should inform policy decisions. He added that structured consultation would help the government determine whether NAGS-AP should be restored in its previous form, reformed to address identified weaknesses or integrated into a broader national agricultural input-support strategy.
“If NAGS-AP is revived, the government should ensure that participating agro-dealers and suppliers are selected through transparent procedures.
“The government should also ensure that they receive clear operational guidelines and are paid promptly for verified supplies delivered under approved programme arrangements,” he said.
Ahmad also said reviving NAGS-AP would help boost dry-season farming.
He stressed that Nigeria’s agricultural development strategy must recognise the opportunities offered by dry-season farming, particularly for crops such as wheat and rice.
According to him, dry-season agriculture can increase domestic food production and reduce the country’s vulnerability to seasonal shortages.
“This can be achieved with appropriate irrigation facilities, improved seeds, fertilisers, technical support and reliable market access,” he said.
He added that farmers engaged in dry-season production needed timely access to inputs, as delays could cause them to miss critical planting windows and reduce the potential benefits of an entire production cycle.
NAGS-AP is a Federal Government scheme that provides farmers growing maize, rice, cassava, sorghum, soybean and wheat with subsidised seeds, fertiliser and other inputs. It also provides advice from extension agents to help farmers increase food production and reduce Nigeria’s food-import bill.
