THE Federal Government has launched the distribution of over 10 million bags of fertiliser and introduced a Guaranteed Minimum Price Model for 2 million smallholder farmers, marking a radical shift in how Nigeria supports its agricultural sector.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Friday, July 17, 2026, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, declared that the initiative represents not just a delivery of inputs but a fundamental restructuring of agricultural support under the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund (RH-SVCF).
‘An Institution Beside You When You Plant, and When You Sell’
Kyari told the gathered farmers that the biggest shift is not the volume of inputs, but the structure of delivery.
“For generations, farmers carried every risk alone. They borrowed to plant. They prayed for rain. And at harvest, they met a buyer who knew they were desperate. What changes today?” the Minister asked.
“From now on, there is an institution beside you when you plant, and an institution beside you when you sell.”
Under the new design, every farmer will be linked to a Farmer Aggregation Company, with Arzikin Noma leading the flag-off in Zaria. One-third of the beneficiaries are women.
Timing Critical to Success
Kyari stressed that timing is critical to agricultural success, noting that fertiliser delivered in August is a different commodity from fertiliser delivered in July. Inputs were delivered in mid-July, right as the rains set in, to ensure farmers do not plant late.
Beyond delivery, the aggregator will remain with the farmer through the entire cycle, providing certified seed, fertiliser, and extension support from land preparation to harvest. At season’s end, the same aggregator becomes the pathway to market, buying at a Guaranteed Minimum Price approved by government.
“That price is a floor below which the farmer’s sweat cannot be bought,” the Minister declared.
Aligning Interests
Kyari explained that the model aligns the interests of farmer and company: “The farmer’s success and the company’s success become the same thing.”
With Arzikin Noma’s investment in local processing, he added, “what our farmers grow will become food and feed here at home,” deepening the value chain and food security.
Zaria’s Agricultural Heritage
The Minister tied the new programme to the history of the host city, noting that Zaria has been a farming city for generations.
“This is where the best seeds were selected. This is where farming methods were refined and passed on. Zaria taught farming to much of this country,” he said.
He noted that just down the road, the Institute for Agricultural Research at Samaru has for decades tested varieties and trained extension agents. “Today’s flag-off connects that work to the field. Research meets the farmer. Inputs meet the rains. And the harvest meets a market.”
BOA: Building an Agricultural Ecosystem
Managing Director and CEO of the Bank of Agriculture Limited, Mr. Ayodeji Oludare Sotinrin, revealed that the programme is designed to reach 2 million smallholder farmers nationwide, deploying over 10 million bags of fertiliser.
“Agricultural transformation is not achieved through isolated interventions. It happens when every part of the value chain works together, from production to processing, from financing to market access, to create an environment where farmers can thrive,” he stated.
Sotinrin disclosed that close to 300,000 farmers have already been onboarded, with more than 1.1 million bags of fertiliser and over 16,470 metric tonnes of improved seeds being deployed through 20 Farmer Aggregation Companies operating across more than 20 states. Behind this delivery network are 15 accredited input suppliers, creating jobs and strengthening local businesses within rural communities.
A Nation’s Independence at Stake
Kyari concluded with a powerful message on food sovereignty: “A nation that cannot feed itself holds its independence on loan.”
He urged farmers to “farm well this season, and hold us to our word,” noting that government will be judged “not by what is said today, but by what happens after the canopies are folded.”
The event was attended by the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, royal fathers, development partners, and farmers from Zazzau and beyond.
