The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is taking a bold step beyond its traditional oil and gas operations by targeting 6,000 vulnerable farmers for training in modern agriculture techniques, as part of a nationwide effort to address food insecurity and reduce reliance on imports.

The initiative is being spearheaded by the NNPC Foundation, which explained that the programme was designed to move farmers away from subsistence-level production and enable them to farm profitably and sustainably.

At the official flag-off of the programme for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nigeria Cluster in Abuja, Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, said the decision to embark on the initiative was driven by the need to address rising food inflation, unemployment, and weak productivity in the agricultural sector.

“The initiative focuses on addressing food insecurity, a critical issue in Nigeria. By training farmers across the six geopolitical zones, the project targets increasing local food production, thus reducing reliance on food imports and enhancing national food security,” Arukwe said.

She explained that the foundation started the programme earlier in the year in the southern geopolitical zones and successfully concluded training there before moving to the North Central zone.

According to her, the current phase covers Kogi, Kwara, Benue, and the FCT, with other zones to follow.

Arukwe identified the key challenges facing smallholder farmers, including lack of access to quality seedlings, poor yields, limited tools, post-harvest losses, transportation constraints, and a lack of knowledge about climate-smart agricultural practices, saying they prevent farmers from increasing productivity and improving their livelihoods.

“We believe that by improving the agricultural practices of Nigeria’s local farmers, we can increase their productivity, which directly contributes to better income and livelihoods for their families and lifts them from subsistence to commercial-scale farming,” she noted.

She explained that the training would cover areas such as improved seed varieties, efficient water management, soil health, mechanisation, pest control, and year-round planting techniques.

The aim is to build capacity for sustained food production while helping farmers adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Arukwe stressed that the approach is designed to have a multiplier effect, enabling trained farmers to share their knowledge with others in their communities.

“Rather than provide food to feed people in the short term, it is better to teach them how to produce food and achieve lasting impact and sustainability,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Food in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Ibrahim Yaro, said agriculture has the potential to solve about 60 per cent of the country’s social challenges, especially poverty and unemployment.

He, however, warned that without consistent intervention and proper follow-through, efforts like these could lose momentum.

He urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously and apply what they learn to improve productivity.

Yaro also cautioned them against misusing the starter packs that will be distributed at the end of the programme, saying such tools should be invested back into their farms.

He commended the NNPC Foundation for prioritising training over direct cash handouts, which according to him, often fail to create lasting impact.