The Federal Government has launched a dry-season agricultural intervention targeting 400,000 farmers with financing, improved seeds, fertilisers and other inputs to boost local wheat production.
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Implemented through the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), the programme aims to strengthen food security and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported wheat.
BOA Managing Director, Ayo Sotinrin, announced the initiative during the flag-off of the 2026 dry-season wheat production and input distribution programme at Maje village, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Representing him, BOA’s North-West Zonal Manager, Abdul-Razaq Datti Saleh, said aggregation companies would identify beneficiaries and distribute inputs. State allocations would depend on the number of farmers presented by their partners.
Saleh said expanding wheat production would create jobs and reduce reliance on foreign supplies.
The General Manager of Golden Agro Input Limited (GAIL), a subsidiary of FMN Agro, Tayo Ilori, said the company was supporting 10,000 farmers across the six states with improved seeds, fertilisers and agrochemicals.
He explained that the inputs were supplied on credit. Beneficiaries would repay with harvested wheat at prevailing market prices, rather than cash. Farmers would also receive guidance on planting, fertiliser application and crop management.
Ilori said lead outgrowers would provide technical support and monitor production. Some farmers could achieve yields of up to seven metric tonnes per hectare, he added.
FMN’s Head of Value Chain Development and National Wheat Development Programme Manager, Aliyu Ismaila, said average yields among participating farmers rose from 1.2 metric tonnes per hectare in 2021 to 4.1 metric tonnes last year.
He added that FMN had registered two bread wheat varieties and two durum wheat varieties to improve access to local seeds.
Project Director, Olusegun Falade, said the programme had improved incomes and created jobs. However, he identified land ownership challenges, poor adoption of modern farming practices and loan repayment difficulties as obstacles.
Women and young farmers in Jigawa said the intervention had supported household incomes and created opportunities for rural youths to earn through farming.
Farmers will receive extension support throughout the production cycle.
How to benefit
Interested farmers should contact agricultural organisations or programme partners in their states to ask about beneficiary identification and eligibility. Inputs are provided on credit and must be repaid in harvested wheat.
