The Federal Government has flagged off the distribution of more than 10 million bags of fertilizer and unveiled a Guaranteed Price Model targeting 2 million smallholder farmers across the country under the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund (RH-SVCF).
Speaking at the flag-off in Zaria, Kaduna State, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the initiative marks a shift from input distribution to a comprehensive support system that provides farmers with access to quality inputs, extension services and guaranteed markets for their produce.
The Minister explained that every beneficiary will be linked to a Farmer Aggregation Company, with Arzikin Noma leading the implementation in Zaria. He noted that the programme ensures farmers receive certified seeds and fertilizer on time, while guaranteeing a minimum purchase price at harvest to protect them from exploitative market conditions.
Kyari said one-third of the beneficiaries are women and described the initiative as a strategic effort to strengthen food security, improve farmers’ incomes and deepen agricultural value chains through increased local processing and private sector participation.
The Managing Director of Arzikin Noma Africa, High Chief Adeoluwa Michael Adeshola, said the programme goes beyond input distribution by integrating finance, logistics, storage, market access and partnerships to build a more sustainable agricultural system.
Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Ayodeji Oludare Sotinrin, said the programme is designed to improve farmers’ productivity through quality inputs, affordable financing, mechanisation support and structured markets. He disclosed that about 300,000 farmers have already been onboarded, with over 1.1 million bags of fertilizer and 16,470 metric tonnes of improved seeds being distributed through 20 Farmer Aggregation Companies operating in more than 20 states.
The event attracted the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, traditional rulers, development partners and farmers, underscoring broad stakeholder support for the Federal Government’s efforts to transform agriculture and enhance national food security.
