Nigerian Farmers Apply Far Less Fertiliser Than Recommended

Nigeria’s farmers are using fertiliser at a level far below the benchmark set under the 2006 Abuja Declaration, raising fresh concerns about soil fertility, crop yields and the country’s ability to increase agricultural production.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security recently put Nigeria’s national fertiliser consumption at about 18.6 kilogrammes per hectare, compared with the 50kg per hectare target established by African leaders under the Abuja Declaration.

The figures highlight a major gap between Nigeria’s growing fertiliser production capacity and what is actually reaching farms. The Ministry disclosed the figure in June 2026 while announcing a partnership with the International Fertilizer Development Center, IFDC, aimed at improving fertiliser access, affordability and distribution.

For farmers, the issue is not simply whether fertiliser is available in the country. The bigger challenge is whether farmers can obtain the right fertiliser, in sufficient quantities and at a price they can afford when their crops need it.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture said Nigeria now has more than 6.5 million metric tonnes of annual urea production capacity through major producers including Dangote Fertilizer, Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals and Notore Chemical Industries. Despite this production capacity, fertiliser consumption on farms remains considerably below the Abuja benchmark.

The Abuja Declaration, adopted at the Africa Fertilizer Summit in Abuja in 2006, called for African countries to raise average fertiliser use to at least 50 kilogrammes per hectare. The target was intended to help address declining soil fertility and improve agricultural productivity across the continent.

The Nigerian government has identified affordability, accessibility and timely distribution as some of the factors preventing many smallholder farmers from using more fertiliser.

This remains an important concern for farmers because fertiliser application cannot be separated from crop productivity. Where soils lack essential nutrients and farmers are unable to replace those nutrients adequately, crops may struggle to achieve their full yield potential.

However, fertiliser use is not simply about applying more bags per hectare. The International Fertilizer Development Center has noted that the 50kg per hectare indicator does not provide the complete picture because fertiliser products contain different concentrations of nutrients and crop requirements vary by location and farming system. Soil conditions, crop type, nutrient balance and application methods all matter when determining how much fertiliser a farmer actually needs.

That is why the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is also working with IFDC on soil testing and balanced nutrient management. The partnership is expected to support better fertiliser distribution while helping farmers make more informed decisions about nutrient application.

The National Agricultural Development Fund has also been working on a harmonised fertiliser application manual intended to provide more consistent guidance on fertiliser use across Nigeria’s different agricultural zones. The initiative is expected to help extension workers and farmers improve the way fertiliser is applied to crops.

For farmers, the current figures therefore point to two connected challenges. Nigeria needs to improve access to fertiliser while also improving the quality of advice farmers receive on what to apply, how much to apply and when to apply it.

The fertiliser gap also comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to increase domestic food production and reduce pressure on food prices. Improving soil fertility and making agricultural inputs more accessible will remain important if farmers are expected to produce more from existing farmland.

Recent reporting by Vanguard also noted the discrepancy between different measures of fertiliser use in Nigeria. While the Agriculture Ministry cited 18.6kg per hectare, the Fertiliser Producers and Sellers Association of Nigeria reported a higher figure of 24kg per hectare in March 2026. This difference illustrates why reliable and consistent agricultural data remain important when measuring progress in the sector.

For farmers on the ground, the message is clear: Nigeria may be producing more fertiliser, but increasing production at the factory level will only translate into higher farm productivity if farmers can access affordable inputs and receive appropriate guidance on their use.

The government’s ongoing efforts to improve fertiliser distribution, soil testing and nutrient management will therefore be closely watched by farmers as the country works to close the gap between current fertiliser use and the long-standing Abuja benchmark.