The Federal Government has intensified its efforts to boost food production and ensure food security through the distribution of agricultural inputs and modern equipment to smallholder farmers in Bauchi and Nasarawa States.

In Bauchi State, no fewer than 1,500 dry season farmers benefitted from the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket Initiative. Each farmer received two bags of NPK fertilizer, one bag of Urea fertilizer, organic fertilizer, as well as pesticides and herbicides, all provided free of charge. In a separate intervention, the Federal Government also distributed subsidised farm inputs to 3,000 wheat farmers across the state, aimed at cutting down Nigeria’s dependence on wheat importation.

Similarly, in Nasarawa State, hundreds of smallholder farmers and cooperative groups have been empowered with improved seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, power tillers, irrigation pumps, threshers, rice transplanters, tricycles for produce haulage, and solar-powered sprayers. The interventions, carried out in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), targeted both men and women farmers across several Local Government Areas, including Lafia, Doma, Wamba, Karu, and Nasarawa.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, speaking during the flag-off ceremonies, noted that the interventions are part of the government’s broader plan to expand food production, reduce post-harvest losses, and strengthen the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

While Bauchi and Nasarawa farmers have so far benefitted from these programmes, similar interventions are expected to reach farmers in other states, including Benue, as part of the Federal Government’s ongoing drive to scale up support for local food production.