The federal government has inaugurated the distribution of agricultural inputs to small-scale farmers in Niger State as part of efforts to boost food production and ensure food security in the country.
Speaking during the exercise in Minna on Friday, Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places food security at the center of national priorities.
“We have declared food security as a national state of emergency, and we are committed to transforming the agriculture sector to make food available, accessible, and affordable to all Nigerians,” he said.
According to him, the items distributed include herbicides, cocoa fertiliser, fungicides, knapsack sprayers, growth enhancers, and tomato seeds. Power tillers and water pumps were also made available, and they will be shared through commodity associations, cooperative groups, farmers with special needs, and Internally Displaced Persons.
The minister added that the government has rolled out different programmes to support farmers in overcoming challenges and to ensure stable access to food nationwide. He stressed that all agricultural programmes are being designed to align with the presidential priority on food security.
Mr Abdullahi noted that the initiative would boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and reduce poverty levels across communities.
In his remarks, Marcus Olaniyi, the permanent secretary of the ministry, said at least 35 percent of the inputs were set aside for women farmers, in line with the National Gender Policy on Agriculture.
Also speaking, Governor Umaru Bago of Niger commended the federal government for selecting the state as a pilot area for the project. He said Niger would also launch a pilot scheme in 2026 that will focus on two million women in agriculture. According to him, beneficiaries of the scheme will be supported with chickens, goats, sheep, and crops to rear.
The governor highlighted Niger’s achievements in the agriculture sector, noting that the state exported $2.2 million worth of sesame seeds in 2025 through the Nigerian Women Police Cooperative in Farming. He also announced plans to establish sesame processing centres in the state.
Mr Bago disclosed that the Cooperative Bank of Niger State would be revived with N2 billion, adding that the bank would operate as a microfinance institution focused on agriculture to reduce the burden of interest rates for farmers.