The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has launched the nationwide distribution of fertiliser, improved maize seeds and crop protection products to approximately 500,000 smallholder farmers as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to increase food production and strengthen food security.

The agricultural intervention is being implemented under the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund and is expected to reach farmers in more than 20 states. According to the Bank of Agriculture, the programme will support the cultivation of about 520,000 hectares of farmland and contribute an estimated 2.6 million tonnes of additional food to Nigeria’s agricultural output.

The distribution exercise was officially flagged off in Karau-Karau, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, the bank’s Divisional Head of Finance and Strategy, Osho Adekunle, said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to expanding agricultural production and supporting rural farmers.

Sotinrin explained that the programme has already made significant progress, with nearly 200,000 farmers receiving financial support across the country. He added that approximately 1.8 million bags of fertiliser and more than 329,000 bags of improved, high-yielding maize seeds are being distributed through 20 Farmer Aggregation Companies operating in over 20 states.

According to the BOA chief, the initiative is designed to improve farmers’ access to quality agricultural inputs while boosting productivity during the current planting season. He noted that the programme is expected to enhance food availability, increase rural incomes and strengthen the country’s agricultural value chain.

Sotinrin also highlighted the programme’s focus on inclusion, revealing that more than one-third of the beneficiaries are women. He described the intervention as a key component of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at providing practical support for farmers through funding, institutional backing and improved access to farming resources.

He said the programme demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that smallholder farmers receive the support needed to improve production from planting through to market access.

The Bank of Agriculture reaffirmed its role as the primary institution responsible for delivering federal agricultural interventions directly to farmers nationwide. Beneficiaries were encouraged to use the distributed inputs responsibly, follow recommended farming practices, maintain accurate production records and report any challenges encountered during the farming season.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, farmer Solomon Mathew welcomed the intervention, describing it as timely amid rising production costs. He expressed confidence that access to fertiliser and improved seeds would enable many smallholder farmers to cultivate larger areas of land and achieve higher yields during the current farming cycle.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector, improve food security and support smallholder farmers with the resources needed to increase productivity and reduce the country’s food supply challenges.