The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has commenced the distribution of maize seeds, fertilisers, and crop protection products to 500,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria as part of efforts to boost food production and improve rural livelihoods.
According to DIP CONNECT ONLINE NEWS, the initiative is being implemented under the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund, designed to strengthen food security and enhance agricultural productivity nationwide.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Head of Operations Lead in the Office of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, Mr. Adam Mohammed.
Speaking during the official launch of the input distribution exercise in Karau-Karau, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BOA, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, said the programme forms part of a nationwide agricultural intervention aimed at supporting nearly 500,000 farmers.
Represented at the event by the Bank's Divisional Head of Finance and Strategy, Mr. Osho Adekunle, Sotinrin said the beneficiaries are expected to cultivate about 520,000 hectares of farmland, with an estimated additional 2.6 million tonnes of food to be added to Nigeria's food supply.
He revealed that the programme had already recorded notable progress, with close to 200,000 farmers receiving financing support.
According to him, the Bank is distributing about 1.8 million bags of fertiliser and 329,000 bags of improved, high-yield maize seeds through 20 Farmer Aggregation Companies operating in more than 20 states across the country.
Sotinrin also noted that over one-third of the beneficiaries are women, reflecting the Federal Government's commitment to promoting inclusive agricultural development.
He described the intervention as a key component of President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at translating government policies into practical support for farmers through access to funding, institutional backing, and timely delivery of quality farm inputs.
"This initiative is a concrete expression of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, a policy that goes beyond promises by providing structure, funding, and institutional support for agriculture.
"It sends a clear message to every Nigerian farmer that they are not alone, as the government and its institutions are standing with them from production to market," Sotinrin said.
He added that the Bank of Agriculture remains committed to serving as the primary vehicle through which the Federal Government delivers agricultural interventions to farmers nationwide.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Sotinrin stressed that the true success of the programme would be measured by increased harvests, improved crop yields, higher incomes for farmers, and stronger national food security.
He urged the farmers to make effective use of the distributed inputs, adhere to recommended agronomic practices, maintain proper farm records, and promptly report any challenges encountered during the farming season.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Solomon Mathew commended the administration of President Bola Tinubu for introducing the intervention, describing it as timely and impactful for farmers across the country.
Mathew said the initiative would significantly reduce the burden of purchasing costly agricultural inputs, enabling smallholder farmers to cultivate larger portions of their land and improve productivity during the current farming season.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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