The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has flagged off the distribution of free agricultural inputs and equipment to smallholder farmers in Niger State as part of its efforts to boost food production and ensure food security across the country.

The exercise, launched on September 12, 2025, in Minna, is part of the “All Year Round Farming” initiative under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The programme is designed to enhance agricultural productivity, create jobs, and guarantee food availability and affordability for Nigerians.

Items distributed to farmers include herbicides, fertilizers (including cocoa fertilizer), fungicides, growth enhancers, tomato seeds, and knapsack sprayers. Larger farming equipment such as power tillers and water pumps were also provided to support mechanized farming.

Beneficiaries of the programme include smallholder farmers, cooperative groups, women, youth, persons with special needs, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). According to the Ministry, at least 35 per cent of the inputs have been reserved for women farmers, in line with national gender policy.

The Federal Government said Niger State is being used as a pilot for the initiative, which will later be expanded to all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Speaking at the launch, government officials reiterated that the initiative aligns with the national emergency declared on food security, stressing that the intervention is aimed at reducing the cost of living, strengthening food sovereignty, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices across Nigeria.