FG flags off distribution of 10 million fertiliser bags to farmers

The Federal Government has launched the distribution of more than 10 million bags of fertiliser and unveiled a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) model designed to protect over two million smallholder farmers from exploitative market prices across the country.

The initiative, flagged off on Friday in Zaria, Kaduna State, is being implemented under the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund (RH-SVCF), with the government describing it as a major shift from input distribution to an integrated agricultural support system.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the programme goes beyond providing fertiliser by ensuring farmers receive support from planting through harvest and guaranteed market access.

“The biggest shift is not the volume of inputs, but the structure of delivery. From now on, there is an institution beside you when you plant, and an institution beside you when you sell,” Kyari said.

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He noted that for decades, farmers had borne the risks of production alone, often borrowing to cultivate their farms only to be forced into distress sales at harvest.

Under the new arrangement, every participating farmer will be linked to a Farmer Aggregation Company (FAC), with Arzikin Noma leading the rollout of the programme in Zaria.

Kyari explained that the aggregators will provide certified seeds, fertiliser and extension services throughout the farming season before purchasing harvested produce at a government-approved Guaranteed Minimum Price.

According to him, the guaranteed price serves as a safety net below which farmers’ produce cannot be sold, thereby protecting their incomes while strengthening food security.

He added that one-third of the programme’s beneficiaries are women, describing the initiative as inclusive and aimed at expanding opportunities for vulnerable farming communities.

The minister stressed the importance of timely input delivery, noting that fertiliser supplied in mid-July, at the onset of the rainy season, would significantly improve yields compared to delayed distribution.

He also said the programme aligns the interests of farmers and aggregators by ensuring both parties benefit from higher productivity and better market outcomes.

Kyari commended Arzikin Noma for investing in local processing facilities, saying the development would ensure agricultural produce is processed into food and livestock feed within Nigeria, thereby strengthening the country’s value chain.

Reflecting on the choice of Zaria for the launch, the minister described the ancient city as one of Nigeria’s historic agricultural hubs and acknowledged the contributions of the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru, to crop improvement and agricultural extension.

“Today’s flag-off connects that work to the field. Research meets the farmer. Inputs meet the rains. And the harvest meets a market,” he said.

Kyari also praised the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Mr. Ayodeji Sotinrin, for ensuring timely delivery of farming inputs. He revealed that Arzikin Noma has expanded its farmer network from fewer than 3,000 to over 400,000 farmers, with plans to reach one million by 2030.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the minister assured farmers that they would receive support throughout the production cycle. “We will not abandon you at planting. We will not abandon you at harvest,” he said, adding that national food security remains central to Nigeria’s economic independence.

Earlier, the Group Managing Director of Arzikin Noma Africa, High Chief Adeoluwa Michael Adeshola, said the company was founded to create a more sustainable support system for Nigerian farmers rather than merely selling agricultural inputs.

He observed that successful agriculture depends not only on farming but also on finance, logistics, storage, market access and trust among stakeholders.

Adeshola stressed that transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector requires collaboration among government, financial institutions, development partners, traditional institutions and the private sector.

In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Ayodeji Sotinrin, said the bank is building an agricultural ecosystem that provides farmers with quality inputs, affordable financing, mechanisation support, aggregation systems and structured market access.

He disclosed that the programme targets two million smallholder farmers nationwide and will distribute more than 10 million bags of fertiliser alongside improved seeds to boost productivity.

According to Sotinrin, nearly 300,000 farmers have already been onboarded into the scheme, while more than 1.1 million bags of fertiliser and over 16,470 metric tonnes of improved seeds are currently being deployed through 20 Farmer Aggregation Companies operating across more than 20 states.

He added that the programme is being supported by 15 accredited input suppliers, creating jobs, strengthening local businesses and stimulating economic activities in rural communities.

The flag-off ceremony was attended by the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, traditional rulers, development partners and hundreds of farmers from Kaduna State and other parts of the country.