BOA, Arzikin Noma partner FG to empower 2 million farmers nationwide

…As Renewed Hope Programme flagged off in Zaria

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting two million smallholder farmers across Nigeria as the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Programme was officially flagged off in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Arzikin Noma Africa, the anchor Farmers Aggregator Company, the programme introduces a more integrated model of agricultural financing that supports farmers from planting through to harvest and market access.

Under the initiative, participating farmers will benefit from structured financing, quality farm inputs, extension services, weather advisories and a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) mechanism aimed at improving productivity, reducing market risks and strengthening agricultural value chains.

The programme forms part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector through deliberate investment, strategic partnerships, stronger institutions and improved access to agricultural financing.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the programme reflects the Federal Government’s determination to boost domestic food production by strengthening support for smallholder farmers, who produce about 85 per cent of Nigeria’s food despite cultivating relatively small landholdings.

He also said that the Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) mechanism addresses one of the biggest challenges confronting farmers: market uncertainty.

“Under the model, every participating farmer is linked to a Farmer Aggregation Company that provides inputs and extension support throughout the production cycle before purchasing harvested produce at a government-approved minimum price.

“This ensures farmers have a guaranteed market, protects them from exploitative pricing and encourages greater investment in agricultural production,” he said.

Kyari stressed that achieving food security requires more than aspirations, noting that it demands sustained investment, stronger institutions and a financing system that gives farmers the confidence to produce and participate meaningfully in the agricultural economy.

He observed that for decades, many farmers bore the risks of farming alone, often borrowing to cultivate their farms and struggling to secure favourable markets after harvest.

According to him, the initiative marks a new chapter in which farmers receive institutional support not only during planting but also at the marketing stage, positioning them for more profitable farming.

The minister commended the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, for ensuring the timely delivery of farm inputs in line with the current planting season, describing the development as evidence of the bank’s renewed commitment to supporting farmers.

In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, described the programme as a major shift in agricultural financing, noting that it places farmers at the centre of a support system that extends beyond access to credit.

According to him, sustainable agricultural transformation can only be achieved when every component of the value chain, from production and processing to financing and market access, works together to create an enabling environment for farmers to thrive.

Sotinrin disclosed that the initiative is expected to reach two million smallholder farmers nationwide through the distribution of more than 10 million bags of fertiliser and improved seeds.

He revealed that nearly 300,000 farmers have already been onboarded, while more than 1.1 million bags of fertiliser and over 16,470 metric tonnes of improved seeds are currently being distributed through 20 Farmer Aggregation Companies operating across more than 20 states, with support from 15 accredited input suppliers.

The Group Managing Director of Arzikin Noma Africa, Adeoluwa Michael Adeshola, described the collaboration as a practical demonstration of how government and the private sector can jointly drive agricultural transformation.

He explained that the programme operates a revolving financing model that enables farmers to repay loans after harvest, allowing more beneficiaries to access support in subsequent farming seasons.

Also speaking, the Divisional Head, Finance and Strategy, Hakeem Adekunle Osho, urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the fertilisers, improved seeds and agrochemicals to achieve bumper harvests.

According to him, the ultimate goal of the intervention is to attain food sufficiency, reduce dependence on food imports, create export opportunities for agricultural produce and generate the foreign exchange needed to strengthen the nation’s economy.

The Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, who also spoke, commended the Federal Government for the initiative and expressed appreciation for the early distribution of farm inputs.

He noted that receiving fertilisers at the appropriate time in the planting season would significantly improve productivity.

Speaking during the distribution of the inputs, one of the beneficiaries, Oguike Ugochukwu, said that farmers received a comprehensive package designed to enhance crop production during the current planting season.

According to him, each beneficiary received bags of urea fertiliser, NPK 15-15-15 fertiliser, two litres of glyphosate herbicide, maize seeds, sorghum seeds, and soybean seeds.

He expressed optimism that the timely distribution of the inputs would enable farmers to maximise yields and contribute significantly to increased food production.

Beneficiaries pledged to utilise the support effectively to increase agricultural production and contribute to the Federal Government’s drive towards achieving national food security.

The flag-off ceremony was attended by government officials, traditional rulers, development partners, and farmers, underscoring a shared commitment to building a more productive, resilient, and market-driven agricultural sector in Nigeria.