The Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Nigerian farmers through access to finance, mechanisation, and productivity-based support rather than unsustainable handouts.

Vice President Kashim Shettima made this known during a bilateral meeting with the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). He emphasized that the Tinubu-Kashim administration is focused on increasing productivity among smallholder farmers while building resilience and encouraging commercial-scale farming.

According to the Vice President, the current agricultural push is anchored on financial access, modern tools, and inclusive rural development. He stressed that this approach is more sustainable and impactful than direct giveaways, particularly in reaching young and female farmers across the country.

He stated clearly that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration places agriculture at the heart of national growth and food security. The government’s priority, he said, is to make farming profitable and attractive by integrating smallholder farmers into national value chains through credit, mechanisation, and improved inputs.

In alignment with this agenda, the Federal Government is working to expand existing IFAD-supported programs across more rural communities to improve productivity and lift more Nigerians out of poverty.

This renewed agricultural direction reflects the administration’s broader vision to transform Nigeria’s food system into a self-reliant, job-creating, and export-driven sector that contributes significantly to the national economy.

Vice President Shettima concluded by affirming that the Federal Government is not offering temporary relief but building long-term empowerment systems that will sustain livelihoods and improve food security for millions of Nigerians.