The federal government has launched an agricultural intervention programme aimed at supporting two million smallholder farmers across Nigeria, who benefit from structured financing, quality farm inputs, extension services, weather advisories and a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) mechanism.

With the move designed to improve productivity, reduce market risks and strengthen agricultural value chains, the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Arzikin Noma Africa, flagged off the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Programme in Zaria, Kaduna State.

In a statement issued by the team lead, Corporate Communication Department, Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Ruth Didam, the programme formed part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector through deliberate investment, strategic partnerships, stronger institutions and improved access to agricultural financing.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the minister of agriculture and food security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the programme reflects the federal government’s determination to boost domestic food production by strengthening support for smallholder farmers, who produce approximately 85 per cent of Nigeria’s food.

“Under the model, every participating farmer is linked to a Farmer Aggregation Company that provides inputs and extension support throughout the production cycle before purchasing harvested produce at a government-approved minimum price.

“This ensures farmers have a guaranteed market, protects them from exploitative pricing and encourages greater investment in agricultural production,” he stated.

The minister stressed that achieving food security requires more than aspirations, noting that it demands sustained investment and a financing system that gives farmers the confidence to produce and participate meaningfully in the agricultural economy.

He observed that for decades, many farmers bore the risks of farming alone, often borrowing to cultivate their farms and struggling to secure favourable markets after harvest.

Kyari commended the managing director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, for ensuring the timely delivery of farm inputs in line with the current planting season, describing the development as evidence of the bank’s renewed commitment to supporting farmers.

On his part, Sotinrin described the programme as a major shift in agricultural financing, noting that it places farmers at the centre of a support system that extends beyond access to credit.

Sotinrin disclosed that the initiative is expected to reach two million smallholder farmers nationwide through the distribution of more than 10 million bags of fertiliser and improved seeds.

He revealed that nearly 300,000 farmers have already been onboarded, while more than 1.1 million bags of fertiliser and over 16,470 metric tonnes of improved seeds are currently being distributed through 20 farmer aggregation companies operating across more than 20 states, with support from 15 accredited input suppliers.

The Group Managing Director of Arzikin Noma Africa, Adeoluwa Michael Adeshola, described the collaboration as a practical demonstration of how government and the private sector can jointly drive agricultural transformation.

He explained that the programme operates a revolving financing model that enables farmers to repay loans after harvest, allowing more beneficiaries to access support in subsequent farming seasons.

Also speaking, the Divisional Head, Finance and Strategy, Hakeem Osho, stated that the ultimate goal of the intervention is to attain food sufficiency, reduce dependence on food imports, create export opportunities for agricultural produce and generate the foreign exchange needed to strengthen the nation’s economy.

The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, commended the federal government for the initiative and expressed appreciation for the early distribution of farm inputs, noting that receiving fertilisers at the appropriate time in the planting season would enormously improve productivity.

Speaking during the distribution of the inputs, one of the beneficiaries, Oguike Ugochukwu, said each beneficiary received bags of urea fertiliser, NPK 15-15-15 fertiliser, two litres of glyphosate herbicide, maize seeds, sorghum seeds.